Abstract

Background/Aims
Colonic epithelial cells are increasingly recognized as playing an important role in host defense against microorganisms in the intestinal lumen and in inflammatory responses. When human intestinal epithelial cells are stimulated with proinflammatory cytokines or infected with microbial pathogens, they up-regulate a program of proinflammatory genes whose products are chemoattractant neutrophils and monocytes. However, little is known about the regulated production of T-cell chemoattractants by the intestinal epithelium. Methods: We studied chemokine (IP-10, Mig, I-TAC) expression of the human colonic mucosa by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Expression of T-cell chemokine (IP-10, Mig, I-TAC) was increased in the mucosa of patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The production level of T-cell chemokine (IP-10, Mig, I-TAC) was decreased in the mucosa of patients with Crohn's disease after remission. Conclusions: Our finding indicated that under inflammatory conditions, mucosal T-cell chemokine production increased and attracted inflammatory cells. This result suggests that, at least in an inflammatory process, T-cell chemokine (IP-10, Mig, I-TAC) play a role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. (Intestinal Research 2004;2:58-64)

• Keywords: Inflammatory bowel disease, IP-10, Mig, I-TAC