Abstract
In vitro interleukin 1 (IL-1) production by stimulated peripheral blood monocytes, from patients with active Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, has been investigated using an ELISA specific for IL-1-beta and a thymocyte proliferation bioassay. Twenty-one patients with active untreated Crohn's disease, 20 with active untreated ulcerative colitis and 10 healthy controls were studied. IL-1 production was significantly increased in Crohn's disease compared with controls by ELISA (11030 +/- 5027 pg/10(6) cells versus 5727 +/- 3106 pg/10(6) cells; P < 0.005) and bioassay [4018 +/- 1770 counts per min (cpm) versus 2250 +/- 700 cpm; P < 0.001]. In contrast, levels of IL-1 production by monocytes from ulcerative colitis were not significantly higher than controls in either the ELISA, or the bioassay [9192 +/- 5958 pg/10(6) cells and 2777 +/- 970 cpm, respectively. Increased production of IL-1 in Crohn's disease may reflect an intrinsic abnormality of monocyte function; alternatively monocyte activation may occur as a consequence of an immune response to an ingested antigen. Increased IL-1 secretion by monocytes may have an important pathogenic role in Crohn's disease.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 45-49 |
Journal | European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology |
Volume | 3 |
Issue number | 1 |
Publication status | Published (in print/issue) - Jan 1991 |