ABSTRACT
Objective Intestinal subepithelial myofibroblasts(ISEMFs) exist throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Due to their ability to secrete cytokines, prostaglandins, growth factors, and extracellular matrix proteins, they are thought to play critical roles in inflammation, repair, fibrosis and neoplasia. The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between ISEMFs and ulcerative colitis by establishing the method of ISEMFs detection from the biopsy specimens. Methods ISEMFs in colon biopsy specimens (15 from active ulcerative colitis patients and 20 from controls) were detected by immunohistochemistry with smooth muscle actin monoclonal antibody. Results ISEMFs existed in a subepithelial location of colon, were located in the basement of epithelial, and were oval or scaphoid in appearance. ISEMFs in active ulcerative colitis (71.3?9.1) were more than those in controls (56.3?6.9) per field of high power ( P