Intestinal permeability in humans is increased after radiation therapy

PURPOSE: Irradiation inflicts acute injuries to the intestinal mucosa with rapid apoptosis induction and subsequent reduction in epithelial surface area. It may therefore be assumed that the intestinal barrier function is affected. The aim of this study was to compare the mucosal permeability in irradiated rectum and nonirradiated sigmoid colon from patients subjected to radiation therapy before surgical treatment for rectal cancer. METHODS: Segments from sigmoid colon and rectum obtained from irradiated and nonirradiated patients were stripped from the serosa-muscle layer and mounted in Ussing diffusion chambers. The mucosa-to-serosa passage of the marker molecules 14C-mannitol, fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran 4,400, and ovalbumin was followed for 120 minutes. RESULTS: The permeability to the markers was size-dependent and increased linearly across time in all specimens. The passage of all markers was increased in irradiated rectum compared with nonirradiated sigmoid colon, whereas in specimens from nonirradiated patients there were no differences between rectum and sigmoid colon. Histologic signs of crypt and mucosal atrophy were found in the irradiated rectal specimens. CONCLUSIONS: Early gastrointestinal complications after radiation therapy may be the result of mucosal atrophy in addition to mucosal damage, with a loss of barrier integrity.

Ekelund, MatsLund University,Lunds universitet,Kirurgi, Lund,Sektion V,Institutionen för kliniska vetenskaper, Lund,Medicinska fakulteten,Surgery (Lund),Section V,Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund,Faculty of Medicine(Swepub:lu)kir-mek (author)
Weström, BjörnLund University,Lunds universitet,Funktionell zoologi,Biologiska institutionen,Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten,Functional zoology,Department of Biology,Faculty of Science(Swepub:lu)zoof-bwe (author)
Willen, R (author)
Jeppsson, BengtLund University,Lunds universitet,Kirurgi,Forskargrupper vid Lunds universitet,Surgery,Lund University Research Groups(Swepub:lu)kir-bje (author)
Kirurgi, LundSektion V (creator_code:org_t)

By the author/editor: Nejdfors, P; Ekelund, Mats; Weström, Björn; Willen, R; Jeppsson, Bengt

About the subject

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES: MEDICAL AND HEAL ...; and Clinical Medicin ...; and Surgery

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