Alimentary TractDifferential lamina propria cell migration via basement membrane pores of inflammatory bowel disease mucosa☆,☆☆
Section snippets
Tissue samples
Mucosa was obtained from freshly resected intestine affected by active ulcerative colitis (n = 13), Crohn's colitis (n = 4), or Crohn's ileitis (n = 5). Thirteen patients were men, and the mean age was 52 years (±4.3). Three patients were taking no drugs, 5 were taking steroids alone, 3 mesalamine preparations alone, and 11 patients combinations of steroids with either azathioprine (n = 4), a mesalamine preparation (n = 3), both drugs (n = 2), a mesalamine and azathioprine preparation (n = 1),
Analysis of H&E-stained sections
PMNs comprised 5.2% (±2.7%) and 8.4% (±3.7%) PMNs in the lamina propria and epithelium, respectively, of IBD sections. Considerably fewer PMNs were present in the lamina propria (0.3% [±0.3%]; P < 0.05) and epithelium (0.2% [±0.2%]; P < 0.01) of normal colonic mucosal samples obtained from resection specimens.
Electron microscopy of untreated mucosal samples
Transmission electron microscopy of fresh IBD-affected mucosal samples showed prominent lamina propria channels containing cells (Figure 1).
Discussion
The basement membrane underlying the epithelium of the normal intestinal mucosa contains numerous discrete pores, which are in continuity with tunnels in the underlying lamina propria.1, 9 We have recently shown that during culture of normal human colonic and ileal mucosal samples that had been denuded of epithelial cells, large numbers of lymphocytes, macrophages, and eosinophils migrate via the lamina propria tunnels and basement membrane pores. Of the three types of migrating cells, T cells
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Address requests for reprints to: Y.R. Mahida, M.D., Division of Gastroenterology, University Hospital, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, England. Fax: (44)115-942-2232. e-mail: [email protected].
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Supported by the British Digestive Foundation (to M.E.M.). Equipment funded by the Wellcome Trust (Wellcome) was used in the electron microscopy studies.