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- Ahrenstedt, O, et al.
(author)
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Enhanced local production of complement components in the small intestines of patients with Crohn's disease.
- 1990
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In: New England Journal of Medicine. - 0028-4793 .- 1533-4406. ; 322:19, s. 1345-1349
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- There is evidence that complement components may be formed locally in inflammatory lesions containing monocytes and macrophages. To investigate the role of complement in Crohn's disease we measured jejunal-fluid concentrations of the complement components C4, C3, and factor B by perfusion of a closed segment of the jejunum in 22 patients with Crohn's disease thought to be limited to the terminal ileum. The mean (+/- SEM) jejunal-fluid C4 concentration was 2.0 +/- 0.3 mg per liter, significantly higher than the mean level in 35 healthy controls (0.7 +/- 0.1 mg per liter; P less than 0.001). The mean C3 concentration was 1.0 +/- 0.1 mg per liter in the patients and 0.7 +/- 0.1 mg per liter in the controls (P less than 0.05). The factor B levels were similar in the two groups. Calculated rates of intestinal secretion of these components showed differences of the same magnitude. Leakage of protein from plasma was not increased. The jejunal-fluid:serum ratios of these complement proteins indicated that their appearance in the lumen of the jejunum was due to at least in part to local mucosal synthesis. The increased jejunal secretion of C4, but not C3 or factor B, paralleled the clinical activity of Crohn's disease. Values were normal in first-degree relatives of the patients (n = 13), patients with celiac disease (n = 8), and patients with ulcerative colitis (n = 4). We conclude that increased secretion of complement by clinically unaffected jejunal tissue in patients with Crohn's disease reflects the systemic nature of this disorder and may be due to the stimulated synthesis of complement by activated intestinal monocytes and macrophages.
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| 2. |
- Ahrenstedt, O, et al.
(author)
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Increased luminal release of hyaluronan in uninvolved jejunum in active Crohn's disease but not in inactive disease or in relatives.
- 1992
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In: Digestion. - 0012-2823 .- 1421-9867. ; 52:1, s. 6-12
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Recently obtained data suggest that there is a subclinic inflammatory activity in the apparently uninvolved intestinal mucosa in Crohn's disease (CD). As CD is characterized by an activation of connective tissue and fibrosis, we investigated the extent to which hyaluronan (HA), an essential component of the connective tissue, was released into the lumen of an isolated jejunal segment in CD patients and in relatives. Patients with active CD of the terminal ileum (CD activity index, CDAI, > 150; n = 14), patients with CD in remission (CDAI < 150 n = 10), first-degree relatives of the CD patients (n = 21) and healthy controls (n = 43) were orally intubated with a catheter allowing occlusion and perfusion of a segment of the proximal jejunum. The jejunal fluid concentration of HA was 65 +/- 45 micrograms/l in patients with active CD in the terminal ileum, significantly higher than the value for 43 healthy controls (42 +/- 23 micrograms/l; p < 0.05), and the corresponding values for patients in remission (42 +/- 23 micrograms/l) and for first-degree relatives of the CD patients (53 +/- 52 micrograms/l), were not increased compared to the control group. To localize HA in the tissue, small bowel biopsies were taken during surgery from patients with CD and from controls and affinity stained for HA. There was an intense staining for HA in the lamina propria of the villi, both in biopsies from patients with CD and from controls, but no staining in the epithelium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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