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Phenotypic Characteristics and Use of Therapeutic Resources in Elderly-Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Multicentre, Case-Control Study Miriam Manosa, Margalida Calafat, Ruth de Francisco, Carmen Garcia Caparros, Maria Jose Casanova, Patricia Huelin, Marta Calvo, Luis Fernandez Salazar, Miguel Minguez, Alexandra Ruiz-Cerulla, Yamile Zabana, Guillermo Bastida, Joaquin Hinojosa, Lucia Marquez, Manuel Barreiro-de Acosta, Xavier Calvet, David Monfort, Rosario Gomez, Esther Rodriguez, Jose Maria Huguet, Maria Rojas-Feria, Daniel Hervias, Ramon Atienza, David Busquets, Eva Zapata, Carmen Duenas-Sadornil, Mara Charro, Francesc J. Martinez-Cerezo, Rocio Plaza, Juan Maria Vazquez Moron, Javier P. Gisbert, Eduard Cabre, Eugeni Domenech

and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Based on the functional differences described for Hp1 and Hp2 and its immunomodulatory role, we studied the Hp locus in Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Methods and patients. We genotyped these alleles in an UC cohort (n=755), an exploratory cohort of CD patients (CD1, n=429), a second independent CD cohort (CD2=632), and in 452 healthy controls. Hp genotypes were determined using touch-down polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Distribution of alleles was in HardyWeinberg equilibrium. Chi-square test was performed to evaluate the differences between groups (SPSS 16.0). P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results. The Hp2 allele frequency was significantly higher in UC patients ( p=0.006) and in CD1(p

INTRODUCTION: Recent studies suggest a potential role of the endocannabinoid system in motility regulation and gastrointestinal inflammation. CB1 receptor activation reduces gastrointestinal inflammation in several animal models. In addition, patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) present an increase of CB2 receptor expression. However, the presence and function of the endocannabinoid system in IBD is not well characterized. AIMS & METHODS: Western Blot and Immunohistochemical analysis were performed to identify CB1 and CB2 receptors and synthesis and inactivation enzymes in untreated active pancolitis, at disease onset and after achieving remission, in comparison with normal human colonic tissue. 24 patients with a first ever flare of pancolitis (clinical, endoscopic and pathological criteria) were studied. In each patient rectal mucosal samples were obtained at first colonoscopy, before treatment (acute group), and after achieving clinical and endoscopic remission (quiescent group). 22 normal samples of colonic tissue from patients underwent colonic resections for colorectal cancer (at least 10 cm apart from the tumor) were also analyzed (control group). RESULTS: Western Blot and immunocytochemical analyses indicated that the endocannabinoid system was present in the colonic tissue, but showed a differential distribution in themucosal epithelium, lamina propria, smooth muscle and myenteric plexus. Quantification of epithelium immunoreactivity for each component of the endocannabinoid system showed: in acute group a significant increase of CB2 receptor and 2-AG pathway activity (DAGLa and MAGL) in mild and moderate pancolitis (Truelove and Witts score) compared to normal tissue (p