acid-phosphatase and Crohn-Disease

Cathepsin K and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) are two proteins expressed in osteoclastic giant cells. Recently we showed that lesional multinucleated giant cells (MNGs) in pulmonary granulomatosis with polyangiitis expressed these proteins. We aimed to clarify whether the expression of these two proteins has any specificity or is a general feature of MNGs associated with multiple types of granulomatous inflammation.. In total, 7 Crohn's disease (CD), 5 GCA, 5 giant cell myocarditis (GCM), 11 sarcoidosis and 6 tuberculosis cases were examined for expression of cathepsin K and TRAP using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Protein expression was semi-quantitatively classified as none, weak, moderate or strong. In addition, tissue TRAP activity was examined using an enzymatic reaction.. The expression of cathepsin K was robust in >95% of MNGs of all examined disease groups, whereas TRAP expression varied; CD, GCA and tuberculosis showed strong TRAP expression. TRAP expression in sarcoidosis and GCM was weaker (CD vs GCM, P = 0.04; CD vs sarcoidosis, P = 0.06). Compared with IHC, TRAP detection using an enzymatic colour reaction had limited sensitivity.. Expression of TRAP and cathepsin K is a general feature of MNGs and their expression might be related to histopathological pattern.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Biomarkers; Cathepsin K; Cells, Cultured; Crohn Disease; Giant Cells; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Isoenzymes; Myocarditis; Osteoclasts; Paraffin Embedding; Sarcoidosis; Sensitivity and Specificity; Statistics, Nonparametric; Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase; Tuberculosis

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) as Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are believed to have a genetic basis. Additional factors are supposed to promote the development of IBD. However, apart from a few reports of HLA associations which await confirmation by other groups strong associations to (a) particular genetic marker(s) are still lacking. We here report on previously unobserved associations of CD to MNSS and UC to the immunoglobulin heavy chain allotype Gm 1,-2,10. We suggest that these factors play a role in a wider spectrum of genetic markers for the development of IBD.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Adenosine Deaminase; Adenylate Kinase; Alanine Transaminase; Blood Group Antigens; Carboxylesterase; Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; Colitis, Ulcerative; Crohn Disease; Erythrocytes; Genetic Markers; Humans; Immunoglobulin Gm Allotypes; Phenotype; Phosphoglucomutase; Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase; Polymorphism, Genetic

The mononuclear cell system in the human gut wall of patients with Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC) and normal controls was studied, with special reference to the so called antigen presenting veiled cells. These cells have already extensively been studied in the skin and are known as Langerhans' cells in the epidermis and dermis, veiled cells in the skin lymph and interdigitating cells in lymph nodes. Recently they were also found in gut associated lymphoid tissue, i.e. Peyer's patches of the rat. Here we describe the presence of similar cells in chronic idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (CIBD). They resemble veiled cells in moving pattern, strong Ia positivity, no or only weak acid phosphatase activity, and ultrastructure. However, many of the described cells combine these characteristics with those of phagocytic macrophages. In the gut wall of controls veiled cells were virtually absent and phagocytic macrophages were almost exclusively recognized. These findings suggest that more intensive antigen handling takes place in the gut wall of CIBD patients than in normal gut. Clear cut associations with sex, age, duration or activity of disease were not observed in this limited study, and the exact significance of the presence of such cells needs further clarification.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Adolescent; Adult; Colitis, Ulcerative; Colon; Crohn Disease; Female; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; Humans; Ileum; Macrophages; Male; Microscopy, Electron; Middle Aged; Phagocytosis

Lysosomes and brush border membranes from diseased ileal mucosa of a patient with Crohn's disease were separated by rate zonal density gradient centrifugation. The organelles were located and characterized in the density gradient of assay of marker enzymes, and their enzyme content compared to that of similar organelles from normal tissue. The activity and latency of lysosomal enzymes (N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase and acid phosphatase) was significantly increased, whereas the activity of brush border alkaline phosphatase was rather decreased. The possible relevance of these findings to the pathophysiology of Crohn's disease is discussed.

Topics: Acetylglucosaminidase; Acid Phosphatase; Aged; Cell Fractionation; Centrifugation, Zonal; Crohn Disease; Female; Humans; Ileum; Intestinal Mucosa; Lysosomes; Male; Microvilli; Middle Aged

The cellular infiltrate in the walls of resected ileum and colon specimens obtained from patients with Crohn's disease was analysed. Mononuclear cells in tissue sections were characterized by the use of surface membrane markers and immuno-histochemical and enzyme histochemical techniques. It was found that: [1] B cells, as judged by the presence of surface membrane immunoglobulin and C3 receptors and the absence of alpha-naphthylacetate esterase and acid phosphatase activity, were the predominant type of cells in the intestinal infiltrate often found in close relation with smaller numbers of non-B cells; [2] all types of immunoglobulin-containing cells were increased in number with a shift in the ratio of IgA/IgG/IgM-containing cells in favour of the IgG- and IgM-containing cells; and [3] the histopathological reaction of the regional draining lymph nodes showed hyperplasia of B-cell areas (follicles and medulla) and small or absent T-cell areas (paracortex), consistent with a B-cell response. Our results indicate that the inflammatory process in the bowel wall in Crohn's disease mainly reflects stimulation of the B-cell system.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Adult; B-Lymphocytes; Colon; Complement C3; Crohn Disease; Esterases; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Histiocytes; Humans; Ileum; Immune Adherence Reaction; Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments; Lymph Nodes; Male; Middle Aged; Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell

Homogenates of gut and mesenteric lymph node tissue from patients with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and control patients were tested for cytopathic effect (CPE) production in a series of cell lines including rabbit ileal and W138 cells. A CPE was produced in W138 cells by tissue homogenates from patients with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and control patients. Evidence was obtained to suggest that this effect, although superficially similar to a viral CPE, was due to toxic protein constituents of inflamed tissue homogenate.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Cell Line; Colitis, Ulcerative; Crohn Disease; Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; Humans; Intestines; Lymph Nodes; Viruses

An electron microscopic study of Crohn's disease of the colon is presented. The positive findings that supplement those obtained by light microscopy are: a prominent nucleolus is more common in the lymphocytes of Crohn's disease than in normal lymphocytes or those found in cases of ulcerative colitis; lymphocytes are often observed close to macrophages and epithelioid cells; the epithelioid cells are metabolically active, and have vesicles which contain acid phosphatase but little visible debris; intramural bacteria were identified in six of the 11 specimens of colon with intact epithelia and minimal inflammatory changes. The possible significance of these findings for the pathogenesis of the disease is discussed.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Adult; Aged; Cell Nucleolus; Colitis, Ulcerative; Colon; Crohn Disease; Epithelium; Female; Humans; Lymphocytes; Macrophages; Microscopy, Electron; Middle Aged