Search

Recurrent Crohns disease originates with small erosions in the follicle-associated epithelium overlying the Peyers patches. Animal studies have illustrated mucosal immune regulation by dendritic cells located in the subepithelial dome. The aim of this study was to characterize the dendritic cells at this specific site in patients with Crohns disease. Heal tissues were obtained after surgery performed on Crohns patients; ileal samples from noninflammatory bowel disease and ulcerative colitis served as standard and inflammatory controls, respectively. Flow cytometry of isolated intestinal mononuclear cells showed a larger subset of dendritic cells in Crohns samples compared with controls. This finding was corroborated by confocal microscopy, showing enhanced infiltrates of cells positive for the dendritic cell markers, DC-SIGN(+) and CD83(+), in the subepithelial dome. Moreover, the CD83(+) cells in Crohns tissues showed reduced expression of the lymph node migratory receptor, CCR7, possibly contributing to the high numbers of dendritic cells. After exposure to nonpathogenic Escherichia coli in Ussing chambers, dendritic cells in the subepithelial dome of Crohns disease demonstrated increased co-localization with translocated bacteria. Immunohistochemical results revealed that DC-SIGN(+) cells in Crohns tissues were found to express toll-like receptor 4 and produce tumor necrosis factor-a. In conclusion, nonmigrating dendritic cells that accumulate in the subepithelial dome and internalize nonpathogenic bacteria may be important for the onset and perpetuation of mucosal inflammation in Crohns disease.

The aim of this study was to identify cell adhesion molecules that could serve as targets of the human follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) overlying Peyer's patches and to assess nanoparticle uptake levels across this epithelium. We first studied the expression of the mouse M-cell marker beta(1)-integrin and used a model of human FAE derived from intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells and Raji B-cells to identify additional potential targets by cDNA array. The protein expression of potential targets in the model FAE and in human ileal FAE tissues was quantified by immunofluorescence. Integrin targeting was studied by investigating the transport of Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-coated (integrin- binding), Arg-Gly-Glu (RGE)-coated (nonintegrin-binding), and uncoated nanoparticles across ileal specimens mounted in Ussing chambers. Both beta(1)-integrin and the cell adhesion molecule CD9 were more abundantly expressed in the model and human FAE compared with the Caco-2 control cells or villus epithelium (VE). Uncoated nanoparticles were not taken up across either FAE or VE. General integrin targeting with RGD improved the nanoparticle transport dramatically across the FAE and to a lower extent across the VE. Compared with RGE, RGD improved transport 4-fold across the FAE. There was no difference in the transport of RGD- and RGE-coated nanoparticles across the VE. In conclusion, beta(1)-integrin and CD9 were identified as targets in human FAE. The difference in RGD- and RGE-mediated transport across the FAE, but not the VE, suggests that a specific integrin interaction was the dominating mechanism for improved nanoparticle uptake across the FAE., whereas charge interaction contributed substantially to the improved VE uptake.

SAMP1/YitFc mice are a unique murine model for Crohn’s disease (CD) as they develop spontaneous intestinal inflammation without chemical or genetic manipulations. Inflammation is primarily located in the distal ileum, which is the hallmark location for CD. It is at the distal ileum of CD where small erosions that develop at the follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) and are one of the earliest observable lesions in recurrent ileitis. In the report, we studied the intestinal permeability defect and examined the role of dendritic cells (DCs) in the SAMP1/YitFc mice ileitis. Segments of FAE and VE from 11 and 27 weeks old SAMP1/YitFc mice and AKR control background stains were mounted on Ussing chambers. Electrical conductivity and permeability to 51Cr-EDTA, horseradish peroxidise (HRP) and E.coli HB101 and LF82 were recorded. There was ileal permeability to 51Cr-EDTA and HRP in the 27 weeks old SAMP1/YitFc mice. Both E.coli HB101 and LF82 increased conductance by two-folds in FAE and VE of SAMP1/YitFc mice. Furthermore, both bacterial strains increased tissue conductance and 51Cr-EDTA passage. There was greater passage of E.coli LF82 in the 27 week old DAMP1/YitFc mice than in controls. Confocal microscopy revealed a high number of CD11c+ DCs in the sub-epithelial dome (SED) area, though there was no difference between the SAMP1/YitFc mice than the AKR controls. Immunofluorescence characterisation also did not reveal any phenotypic difference in DCs between the mice strains. These results show that SAMP1/YitFc mice have a barrier defect, which was more pronounced in the FAE of older mice, and demonstrate a mucosal sensitivity bacteria. It also confirms that this model of chronic ileitis is primarily a defect in permeability defect and not DCs.

Aphtoid lesions at the follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) are one of the earliest observable signs of recurrent ileal Crohn’s disease (CD). In an earlier study, we found an abnormal accumulation of dendritic cells (DCs) situated beneath the FAE, in the sub-epithelial dome (SED) of patients with CD. These DCs were prone to E.coli uptake. The aim here was to isolate and characterise DCs from patients with CD and determine their functional properties in T-cell expansion. Initially, DCs were isolated from eleal mucosa and blood of 5 CD patients and 5 patients with non-IBD disorders, via magnetic bead separation. DCs were also isolated from blood of 5 patients in long-term remission and 5 healthy volunteers, via FACS sorting and separation. Mixed lymphocyte reaction was performed on the isolated DCs and expansion of T-cells was recorded. DCs that were isolated from blood were also characterised via FACS analysis. DCs from patients with active CD had the tendency of having lower T-cell expansion capacity than DCs from non-IBD controls. The capacity to stimulate T-cells proliferation was restored to similar levels as healthy controls in DCs isolated from patients in remission. However, there was more than 10-fold increase in myeloid (CD11c+) DCs present in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of CD than in healthy controls. The myeloid DCs were primarily immature (CD83-) and expressed the lymph node migratory receptor CCR7. This population of DCs may be responsible for inducing a tolerogenic or regulatory effect. Our results hint to a complex immune-regulatory mechanism where DCs at different stages of chronic inflammation exert different immune-modulatory effects.

Aphtoid lesions at the follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) are one of the earliest observable signs of recurrent ileal Crohn’s disease (CD). In an earlier study, we found an abnormal accumulation of dendritic cells (DCs) situated beneath the FAE, in the sub-epithelial dome (SED) of patients with CD. These DCs were prone to E.coli uptake. The aim here was to isolate and characterise DCs from patients with CD and determine their functional properties in T-cell expansion. Initially, DCs were isolated from eleal mucosa and blood of 5 CD patients and 5 patients with non-IBD disorders, via magnetic bead separation. DCs were also isolated from blood of 5 patients in long-term remission and 5 healthy volunteers, via FACS sorting and separation. Mixed lymphocyte reaction was performed on the isolated DCs and expansion of T-cells was recorded. DCs that were isolated from blood were also characterised via FACS analysis. DCs from patients with active CD had the tendency of having lower T-cell expansion capacity than DCs from non-IBD controls. The capacity to stimulate T-cells proliferation was restored to similar levels as healthy controls in DCs isolated from patients in remission. However, there was more than 10-fold increase in myeloid (CD11c+) DCs present in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of CD than in healthy controls. The myeloid DCs were primarily immature (CD83-) and expressed the lymph node migratory receptor CCR7. This population of DCs may be responsible for inducing a tolerogenic or regulatory effect. Our results hint to a complex immune-regulatory mechanism where DCs at different stages of chronic inflammation exert different immune-modulatory effects.

SAMP1/YitFc mice are a unique murine model for Crohn’s disease (CD) as they develop spontaneous intestinal inflammation without chemical or genetic manipulations. Inflammation is primarily located in the distal ileum, which is the hallmark location for CD. It is at the distal ileum of CD where small erosions that develop at the follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) and are one of the earliest observable lesions in recurrent ileitis. In the report, we studied the intestinal permeability defect and examined the role of dendritic cells (DCs) in the SAMP1/YitFc mice ileitis. Segments of FAE and VE from 11 and 27 weeks old SAMP1/YitFc mice and AKR control background stains were mounted on Ussing chambers. Electrical conductivity and permeability to 51Cr-EDTA, horseradish peroxidise (HRP) and E.coli HB101 and LF82 were recorded. There was ileal permeability to 51Cr-EDTA and HRP in the 27 weeks old SAMP1/YitFc mice. Both E.coli HB101 and LF82 increased conductance by two-folds in FAE and VE of SAMP1/YitFc mice. Furthermore, both bacterial strains increased tissue conductance and 51Cr-EDTA passage. There was greater passage of E.coli LF82 in the 27 week old DAMP1/YitFc mice than in controls. Confocal microscopy revealed a high number of CD11c+ DCs in the sub-epithelial dome (SED) area, though there was no difference between the SAMP1/YitFc mice than the AKR controls. Immunofluorescence characterisation also did not reveal any phenotypic difference in DCs between the mice strains. These results show that SAMP1/YitFc mice have a barrier defect, which was more pronounced in the FAE of older mice, and demonstrate a mucosal sensitivity bacteria. It also confirms that this model of chronic ileitis is primarily a defect in permeability defect and not DCs.

Background: The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the effect of colitis and anti inflammatory therapies, respectively, on the healing of colonic anastomoses in mice. Methods: Eighty four female C57BL/6 mice where randomized into eight groups; four groups continued receiving plain tap water and four groups receiving dextran sulfate sodium. Intraperitoneal treatment was given for 14 days with placebo, prednisolone (2 mg/kg bodyweight), azathioprine (5 mg/kg bodyweight) or infliximab (5 mg/kg bodyweight) until surgery with transsection of the colon and an end to end colonic anastomosis was performed. All mice were sacrificed on day 2 and bursting pressure measurements were recorded. Results: In the DSS group the mice receiving placebo (n=4) had a more active inflammation with a bowel weight of 12.8 (10.6-15.0) mg/mm, which differed significantly from all the other therapy arms; prednisolone 8.1 (7.5-9.1) mg/mm (p=0.014), azathioprine 8.2 (7.0-8.5) mg/mm (p=0.0046), infliximab 6.7 (6.4-7.9) mg/mm (p=0.0055). Bursting pressure for the placebo group was 90.0 (71.5-102.8) mmHg and did not differ from the azathioprine or infliximab groups, 84.4 (70.5-112.5) and 92.3 (75.8-122.3) mmHg respectively. In contrast bursting pressure for the prednisolone-treated group was decreased compared to placebo, 55.5 (42.8-73.0) mmHg (p=0.0004), as well as compared with azathioprine (p=0.0004) and infliximab (p=0.0015). Conclusions: All given therapies had effect on the DSS-induced colitis. A severe decrease in bursting pressure of a colonic anastomosis was seen after preoperative steroids but we found no effect of azathioprine or infliximab. Thus, AZA and IFX may not increase the risk for anastomotic complications per se; the need for these therapies may rather be seen as markers of severe IBD with increased risk of surgical complications.