Upregulation of interleukin-12 and -17 in active XXXX .

@entity1 @entity32 @entity404 @entity7501 @entity469 @entity31 @entity29 @entity4155 @entity30
BACKGROUND: Cytokines are essential mediators of the intestinal @entity32 during active episodes of @entity29 ( @entity29 ). Interleukin (IL)-12 and @entity4155 are potent immunoregulatory cytokines whose roles in the pathogenesis of @entity29 are unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the colonic expression of IL-12 and @entity4155 genes in @entity29 . METHODS: Fifty-one @entity1 (22 with @entity31 ( @entity31 ), 17 with @entity30 ( @entity30 ), and 12 controls) who underwent colonoscopy were included. @entity29 disease activity was determined using a clinical grading scale. The degree of @entity32 , as well as the content of @entity404 + T cells (synthesizing @entity4155 ) and @entity469 + macrophages (synthesizing IL-12) in colonic biopsies, was determined. The amounts of IL-12 and @entity4155 mRNA were assessed by RT-PCR, using @entity7501 as an internal standard. RESULTS: In colonic specimens, @entity4155 mRNA expression was increased in moderately and severely active @entity31 (P = 0.03) and in all degrees of activity in @entity30 (P < 0.04). Levels of IL-12 mRNA were upregulated in both active @entity31 and active @entity30 compared to controls (P < 0.02). In cases of remission, IL-12 mRNA expression was similar to that found in control samples. Compared to controls, histological examination showed significant differences in signs of chronic and acute @entity32 in @entity31 (P < 0.01) and @entity30 (P < 0.02), revealing a high correlation between clinical disease activity and histological scoring (r2 = 0.92, P < 0.005). Whereas @entity404 + T cells were observed in lymphocyte aggregates located profound in the lamina propria, @entity469 + macrophages were primarily found just underneath the surface epithelium. The density of @entity404 + and @entity469 + cells correlated significantly with the amounts of @entity4155 and IL-12 mRNA, respectively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The expression of both IL-12 and @entity4155 mRNA is induced in active @entity31 and @entity30 and may thus be involved in sustaining the intestinal @entity32 in @entity29 . Inhibition of IL-12 or @entity4155 might be future therapeutic targets in @entity29 .
