The IL-8 mRNA expression ratios in UC (mean +/- SD, 1.03 +/- 0.52) and CD (0.90 +/- 0.38) patients were significantly higher than in IBS (0.52 +/- 0.17) (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, respectively).
Our data suggest enhanced expression of mucosal IL-6 mRNA in CD and of IL-8 mRNA in UC by infiltrating mononuclear cells, indicating the distinct participation of each cytokine in the pathogenesis of UC and CD.
ELOCA enabled quantitation of multiple mRNAs in small mucosal biopsies from untreated patients with CIIBD and supported a role for IL-8 and iNOS in acute inflammation in both UC and CD.
In accordance with the characteristic histological signs of active disease, IL-8-expressing cells were diffusely distributed over the entire affected mucosa in patients with ulcerative colitis, whereas in patients with Crohn's disease, IL-8-expressing cells showed a focal distribution pattern.