Subject(s)
Azathioprine/adverse effects , Crohn Disease/drug therapy , Immunocompromised Host/drug effects , Immunosuppressive Agents/adverse effects , Peritonitis/microbiology , Salmonella enteritidis/isolation & purification , Adult , Azathioprine/therapeutic use , Crohn Disease/immunology , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use , Peritonitis/immunology , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Nitric oxide synthesis is increased in rectal biopsies from patients with ulcerative colitis and colonic epithelial cells are considered to be a major source of nitric oxide in intestinal inflammation. METHODOLOGY: Human colonic biopsies from normal bowel mucosa and colonic epithelial cell line HT-29 were cultured in the presence of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1 alpha + TNF-alpha + IFN-alpha added after 1 hour pretreatment with vehicle or Interleukin-13. Nitrite levels were determined at 30 hours in culture supernatants by a fluorometric assay. RESULTS: Unstimulated human colonic biopsies and HT-29 cells produced a basal amount of nitrite. Stimulation with IL-1 alpha + TNF-alpha + IFN-alpha induced a significant (P < 0.001) increase of nitrite generation by both human colonic biopsies and HT-29 cells. The presence of Interleukin-13 produced a significant (P < 0.001) suppression of the cytokine-induced nitrite generation from both colonic biopsies and HT-29 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Nitric oxide generation in human colonic mucosa is susceptible to manipulation by proinflammatory cytokines. Interleukin-13 has an inhibitory effect on cytokine induced nitrite production in colonic mucosa and could play an anti-inflammatory role in intestinal inflammation.
