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W Strober

Publications and source records attributed to W Strober.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

TGF-beta production regulates the development of the 2,4,6-trinitrophenol-conjugated keyhole limpet hemocyanin-induced colonic inflammation in IL-2-deficient mice.

A severe, Th1-mediated experimental colitis with similarities to inflammatory bowel disease in humans can be induced by a single injection of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP)-substituted protein plus adjuvant in IL-2-/- mice. To determine the early events involved in the pathogenesis of IL-2-/-colitis, we compared the function of lamina propria (LP) T cells from IL-2-/- and IL-2+/+ mice subjected to disease-inducing (TNP-conjugated keyhole limpet hemocyanin [TNP-KLH]) and disease-inhibiting (anti-CD3) immunization protocols. We show that LP T cells in TNP-KLH-immunized IL-2-/- mice fail to produce TGF-beta early (day 2), whereas LP T cells in TNP-KLH-immunized IL-2+/+ mice exhibit an approximately eightfold rise in TGF-beta secretion. The critical importance of local TGF-beta production was further substantiated by the following findings. 1) LP T cells from TNP-KLH-immunized IL-2-/- mice administered anti-CD3 (i.p.) exhibit a significant rise in TGF-beta, production but fail to produce IFN-gamma, and such mice do not develop colitis. 2) TNP-KLH-immunized IL-2-/- mice administered anti-CD3 and coadministered anti-TGF-beta mAb again give rise to IFN-gamma-producing LP cells, and such mice develop colitis. 3) TNP-KLH-immunized IL-2+/+ mice administered anti-TGF-beta mAb exhibit pockets of mononuclear cell infiltrates in the LP. These results indicate that the disposition of IL-2-/- mice to develop chronic colonic inflammation is due to a Th1 cell response in the LP that is not appropriately counter-regulated by the production of the suppressor cytokine, TGF-beta.

Animals↗

Clincal, immunologic, and genetic features of an autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome associated with abnormal lymphocyte apoptosis.

Programmed cell death (apoptosis) of activated lymphocytes is critical to immune homeostasis. The cell surface protein Fas (CD95) and its ligand play a pivotal role in regulating lymphocyte apoptosis, and defective expression of either Fas or Fas ligand results in marked over accumulation of mature lymphocytes and autoimmune disease in mice. The results of recent studies suggest that defective lymphocyte apoptosis caused by mutations of the Fas gene can result in a severe autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) in humans. To define the clinical, genetic, and immunologic spectrum of ALPS, 9 patients and their families were extensively evaluated with routine clinical studies, lymphocyte phenotyping, genotyping, and in vitro assays for lymphocyte apoptosis. Individual patients were followed up for 3 months to 6 years. ALPS was identified in 9 unrelated children as manifested by moderate to massive splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy, hypergammaglobulinemia, autoimmunity, B-cell lymphocytosis, and the expansion of an unusual population of CD4- CD8- T cells that express the alpha/beta T-cell receptor (TCR). All patients showed defective lymphocyte apoptosis in vitro. Heterozygous mutations of the Fas gene were detected in 8 patients. One ALPS patient lacked a Fas gene mutation. Healthy relatives with Fas mutations were identified in 7 of 8 ALPS kindreds. These relatives also showed in vitro abnormalities of Fas-mediated lymphocyte apoptosis, but clinical features of ALPS were not present in the vast majority of these individuals. ALPS is a unique clinical syndrome in which in vitro abnormalities of lymphocyte apoptosis are associated with abnormal lymphoproliferation and autoimmunity. These findings provide evidence that apoptosis of activated lymphocytes is an important mechanism for maintaining immunologic homeostasis and self-tolerance in humans. Fas gene mutations account for impaired lymphocyte apoptosis in only a subset of patients with ALPS.

Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune↗

Characteristic T helper 2 T cell cytokine abnormalities in autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome, a syndrome marked by defective apoptosis and humoral autoimmunity.

Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is marked by massive lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, autoimmunity and the presence of increased numbers of circulating and tissue TCR-alpha beta, CD4- CD8- T cells. The underlying defect is that of decreased T cell and B cell apoptosis, due in most, but not all, cases to heterozygous mutations of the Fas gene and corresponding defective Fas signaling function. Here we measure in vivo and in vitro cytokine secretion in ALPS to shed light on the relation of apoptosis defects to the development of autoimmunity. In in vivo studies, ALPS patients manifested greatly increased circulating levels of IL-10 (> 100-fold), compared with both healthy individuals and various disease controls; in contrast, their levels of IL-1 beta, IL-4, and IFN-gamma were normal and their levels of IL-2 and TNF-alpha were marginally increased. In parallel in vitro studies, ALPS patients CD4+ DR+ T cells stimulated either with anti-CD3/CD28 or anti-CD2/CD28 produced increased amounts of IL-4 and IL-5 (10 to 20-fold) and decreased amounts of IFN-gamma (4-fold) as compared with those of control CD4+ DR+ T cells. In contrast, ALPS patients' CD4-/CD8- T cells produced very low amounts of cytokines. Finally, ALPS patients' peripheral monocytes/macrophages produced decreased amounts of IL-12 (30-fold) and increased amounts of IL-10 (5-fold). In conclusion, ALPS is marked by the presence of DR+ T cells that exhibit a skewed Th2 cytokine response upon various forms of stimulation. This cytokine response, in the presence of increased circulating IL-10 levels, is likely to define the cytokine milieu that accounts for the humoral autoimmune features of ALPS and, perhaps, of other humoral autoimmune states.

Adolescent↗

Induction and prevention of colonic inflammation in IL-2-deficient mice.

Gene-targeted mice deficient for IL-2 (IL-2 -/- mice) are free of apparent disease when maintained under germfree conditions but develop colitis and autoimmunity in a conventional environment. Here we show that colitis can be reproducibly induced in IL-2 -/- mice, but not in IL-2 +/+ mice, by i.p. immunization with Ag in CFA; thus enabling the systematic study of the immunopathogenesis of the colitis. We found that TNP-KLH or TNP-OVA had the most significant effect in inducing colitis, and while TNP-KLH immunization leads to the early appearance of activated T cells in the colons of both IL-2 -/- and IL-2 +/+ mice, only lamina propria cells of IL-2 -/- mice produced high amounts of INF-gamma. Moreover, both infiltrating colon CD4+ (69%) and CD8+ (6%) T cells secrete large amounts of IFN-gamma; however, only the depletion of CD4+ T cells leads to abrogation of the inflammation. In further analysis, we showed that the high IFN-gamma production is IL-12 driven, since colonic tissues of IL-2 -/- mice but not IL-2 +/+ mice show the presence of heterodimeric IL-12 and co-administration of anti-IL-12 with TNP-KLH completely prevented colitis and significantly reduced IFN-gamma production. Finally, we demonstrate that IL-2 -/- mice are deficient in their ability to induce Th2 responses after TNP-KLH challenge and that such immunization also leads to autoimmune-like phenomena in other organs of IL-2 -/- mice. These findings suggest that in the absence of IL-2 systemic administration of Ag induces primarily Th1 cells driven by overexpression of heterodimeric IL-12.

Animals↗

Dysregulated intrathymic development in the IL-2-deficient mouse leads to colitis-inducing thymocytes.

Gene-targeted mice lacking the IL-2 gene (IL-2 -/- mice) develop various forms of autoimmunity as well as severe colitis, either spontaneously in a conventional environment or after immunization with 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP)-conjugated keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) in a specific pathogen-free environment. We show here that the induction of colitis with TNP-KLH induces a change in the thymocyte population characterized by decreased numbers of double positive (DP; CD4+CD8+) thymocytes (IL-2 +/+, 45.2 x 10(6) vs IL-2 -/-, 23.6 x 10(6)) and increased numbers of single positive (SP; CD4+CD8- or CD4-CD8+) thymocytes (IL-2 +/+, 5.3 x 10(6) vs IL-2 -/-, 20.9 x 10(6)). The latter also bear activation markers. In addition, thymocytes from TNP-KLH-immunized IL-2 -/- mice produce more IFN-gamma and less IL-4 than similarly immunized IL-2 +/+ mice. These defects in thymocyte maturation and lymphokine production are IL-12 driven, since they are prevented when immunized IL-2 -/- mice are coadministered with anti-lL-12. Furthermore, we demonstrate that IL-2 -/- mice exhibit decreased cortical apoptosis as determined by thymocyte numbers and detection of apoptotic cells in situ. Finally, we show that colitis-inducing thymocytes are generated in the immunized IL-2 -/- thymus, since IL-2 +/+ mice develop colitis following injection of small numbers of single positive thymocytes from immunized IL-2 -/- mice but not from IL-2 +/+ mice. Taken together, these data indicate that, in the absence of IL-2, thymocyte maturation is abnormally directed by IL-12 toward the generation of mature, activated Th1-type thymocytes that are capable of mediating colitis.

Animals↗

Regulation of transforming growth factor-beta production by interleukin-12.

The induction of peripheral tolerance following oral antigen administration in several autoimmune disease and conventional animal models correlates with the production of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and T helper type 2 (Th2) cytokines. The factors regulating TGF-beta production and its relation to the Th2 response, however, have not been defined. We demonstrate that the systemic administration of antibodies to interleukin (IL)-12 to ovalbumin (OVA)-T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mice fed high doses of OVA, followed by systemic OVA challenge, substantially enhances TGF-beta, but not IL-4 production by peripheral T cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate in an in vitro T cell differentiation model that naive (CD4+/Mel-14hi) OVA-TCR-T cells stimulated with OVA-pulsed dendritic cells (DC) produce four- to fivefold higher amounts of TGF-beta when cultured with anti-IL-12 or anti-interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). In this in vitro system, IL-4 was not required for TGF-beta production by T cells; however, it appeared to enhance levels of TGF-beta by promoting the growth of TGF-beta-producing cells. Our findings demonstrate that IL-12 and IFN-gamma are important negative regulators of TGF-beta production both in vivo and in vitro, and that their modulation may be of benefit for the treatment of autoimmune disorders.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Predominant pathogenic role of tumor necrosis factor in experimental colitis in mice.

Antibodies to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha have been recently proposed as effective treatment for patients with Crohn's disease. Here, we analyze the functional role of TNF-alpha in a mouse model of chronic intestinal inflammation induced by the hapten reagent 2,4,6,-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) that mimics some characteristics of Crohn's disease in humans. Macrophage-enriched lamina propria (LP) mononuclear cells from mice with TNBS-induced colitis produced 10-30-fold higher levels of TNF-alpha mRNA and protein than cells from control mice. When mice with chronic colitis were treated by intraperitoneal injection of antibodies to TNF-alpha, an improvement of both the clinical and histopathologic signs of disease was found. Isolated macrophage-enriched LP cells from anti-TNF-alpha-treated mice produced strikingly less pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6 in cell culture. The predominant role of TNF-alpha in the mouse TNBS-induced colitis model was further underlined by the finding that striking colonic inflammation and lethal pancolitis was induced in TNF-alpha-transgenic mice upon TNBS treatment. Conversely, no significant TNBS-induced colitis could be induced in mice in which the TNF-alpha gene had been inactivated by homologous recombination. Complementation of TNF-alpha function in TNF-/- mice by the expression of a mouse TNF-alpha transgene was sufficient to reverse this effect. Taken together, the data provide direct evidence for a predominant role of TNF-alpha in a mouse model of chronic intestinal inflammation and encourage further clinical trials with antibodies to TNF-alpha for the treatment of patients with Crohn's disease.

Animals↗

Reciprocal IFN-gamma and TGF-beta responses regulate the occurrence of mucosal inflammation.

The above new findings concerning the immunological mechanisms governing mucosa, immune responses and oral tolerance in TCR-transgenic mice, as well as those operative in mice with experimental colitis, greatly expand our understanding of the processes that normally control mucosal inflammation and possibly other types of inflammation as well (Fig. 1). They indicate that, in the nondiseased mouse, ingested proteins evoke a Th1-cell (IFN-gamma) response in the mucosal follicles that is quickly counter-regulated by induction of T-cell anergy/deletion, if this Th1-cell response is inhibited (experimentally by anti-IL-12), TGF beta-producing cells appear, and these are capable of active immune suppression. This reciprocal relationship between IFN-gamma production and TGF-beta production is further supported in mouse models of mucosal inflammation. Thus, in the TNBS-colitis model, there is direct stimulation of the immune cells in the lamina propria as a result of diffuse haptenization of mucosal proteins, which leads to a massive Th1-cell response capable of overwhelming any suppressive counter-regulatory mechanisms normally generated in the PPs. This highly polarized Th1-cell response is controlled only by direct abrogation of IL-12 production with exogenous administration of anti-IL-12, or with indirect inhibition of this response via induction of oral tolerance and accompanying production of TGF-beta (Refs 6-8). The data obtained from this model are consistent with those obtained with another model of intestinal inflammation--inflammation in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice following lymphoid repletion with CD45Rbhi (naive) T cells. In this model, inflammation is again mediated by Th1 cells and is prevented by co-repletion with CD45Rbhi (memory) T cells, which appear to work by secreting TGF-beta (Refs 9, 10). Thus, a common feature of the various experimental models of intestinal inflammation studied to date is the Yin-Yang relationship of IFN-gamma and TGF-beta, with the former being proinflammatory and the latter anti-inflammatory. Is the IFN-gamma TGF-beta dichotomy that is evident both in the normal state and in models of inflammation simply a reflection of an underlying Th1 Th2 dichotomy? The answer to this important question is not yet known. Thus, while it is clear from the in vitro studies already discussed that IL-12 and/or IFN-gamma inhibit TGF-beta production, the role of IL-4 in this process is more elusive. These in vitro studies indicate that IL-4 is not required for TGF-beta production, a finding that is consistent with studies in which the transfer of CD45Rbhi, T cells from IL-4-/- mice protected SCID mice from colitis induced by CD45Rbhi T cells. However, the addition of IL-4 to in vitro cultures containing anti-IL-12 augmented TGF-beta production, most probably by IL-4 acting as a growth factor for TGF-beta-producing cells rather than as an inducing factor (T. Marth et al., unpublished). Obviously, more work will be necessary to resolve this issue. Finally, it should be noted that the above considerations apply to human inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, such as Crohn's disease. Recently, it has been shown that T cells extracted from Crohn's disease tissues manifest skewed Th1-cell responses. The hypothesis can therefore be put forward that this disease results from a dysregulated Th1-cell response to ubiquitous mucosal antigens that is not appropriately controlled by normal counter-regulatory mechanisms. Interventions that artificially bring the excessive Th1-cell response back into balance, such as administration of IL-12 antagonists, should therefore find a central place in the treatment of the disease.

Animals↗

Defects of monocyte interleukin 12 production and humoral immunity in Whipple's disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Whipple's disease (WD) is a systemic infection in which the causative bacteria typically accumulate within macrophages. The aim of this study was to test whether this macrophage dysfunction is the cause or result of previously shown T-cell defects. METHODS: In vitro production of interleukin (IL)-12, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) from purified monocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, cytokine expression on duodenal biopsy specimens, and serum cytokine and immunoglobulin (Ig) levels were tested in 9 patients with WD. RESULTS: Reduced monocyte IL-12 production and decreased IFN-gamma secretion by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro were found, as well as reduced immunohistological staining for IL-12 and IFN-gamma, but no decrease in other cytokines in patients with WD. A similar but less severe defect in 2 relatives with WD argued for a genetic basis of this abnormality. Serum IgG2, an IFN-gamma-dependent Ig subclass, and serum TGF-beta levels were reduced in patients with WD. CONCLUSIONS: The described monocyte defects in WD may result in a secondary reduction of IFN-gamma production and IgG2 serum levels. This provides a rationale for additive immunotherapy in patients with antibiotic-refractory WD.

Antibody Formation↗

Stimulated human lamina propria T cells manifest enhanced Fas-mediated apoptosis.

Lamina propria (LP) T cells respond poorly to a proliferative stimulus delivered via TCR/CD3 pathway, but retain considerable ability to respond to a stimulus delivered via CD2 costimulatory or accessory pathway. In the present study, we showed first that unstimulated LP T cells, as compared to unstimulated peripheral blood (PB) T cells, exhibit an increased level of apoptosis which is further increased following CD2 pathway stimulation, but not following via TCR/CD3 pathway stimulation. We next showed that IL-2 had a sparing effect on apoptosis of unstimulated LP T cells in that IL-2 decreased and anti-IL-2 increased apoptosis of these cells; in contrast, IL-2 had no effect on apoptosis of CD2-pathway stimulated cells. Finally, we showed that increased apoptosis of LP T cells induced by CD2-pathway stimulation is inhibited when Fas antigen is blocked by a nonstimulatory anti-Fas antibody. These studies suggest that LP T cells are characterized by increased susceptibility to Fas-mediated apoptosis most due to a downstream change in the Fas signaling pathway. Given that IFN-gamma secretion is significantly increased in LP T cells in which apoptosis is inhibited, this feature of LP T cells may represent a mechanism of regulating detrimental immune responses in the mucosal environment.

Antibodies↗

Interleukin-12 production by dendritic cells. The role of CD40-CD40L interactions in Th1 T-cell responses.

Recent studies have demonstrated that the treatment of mice with anti-gp39 antibodies impairs T-cell functions in the murine collagen type II-induced arthritis model, in acute semi-allogenic graft-versus-host disease, and in the allo-specific CTL-reaction, that is, reactions that are believed to be mediated by Th1-type T cells. On the other hand, the administration of anti-gp39 antibody did not influence Th2 T-cells responses, suggesting that CD40-CD40L interactions are more crucial for Th1 than Th2 T-cell development. Recent studies also demonstrate that dendritic cells (DC) are capable of driving a Th1 T-cell response that is mediated by IL-12. In addition, stimulation of CD40 on human monocytes results in IL-12 production, suggesting that activated T cells expressing CD40L may directly induce the production of IL-12 by antigen-presenting cells, thus allowing for the generation of a Th1 T-cell response in the absence of intracellular pathogens. We investigated whether the CD40-CD40L interaction was important in the production of IL-12 by DCs in an in vitro system that allowed precise control of cytokine concentrations. Initially we showed that FACS-purified mouse spleen DCs produce high amounts of IL-12 p40 in response to CD40 crosslinking by CD40L-expressing fibroblasts. We then demonstrate that DCs also produce IL-12 p40 in a more physiologic system using purified DCs pulsed with ovalbumin (OVA) and then cultured with LECAM-1hi T cells from ovalbumin T-cell receptor transgenic mice. Finally, we show that IL-10 has a potent capacity to shut down CD40-induced IL-12 p40 secretion; and, in addition, IL-4 partially inhibits CD40-induced IL-12 p40 secretion and enhances IL-10-mediated inhibition in an additive fashion. We also investigated the in vivo relevance of this interaction in an experimental model for a Th1-mediated disease, the hapten reagent (TNBS)-induced colitis. The administration of anti-gp39 (CD40L) antibodies during the induction phase of the Th1 response completely prevented IFN-gamma production by CD4 T cells from the intestinal lamina propria and also the clinical and histological evidence of disease. In further studies we showed that the prevention of disease activity was due to an inhibition of IL-12 secretion. Thus, the injection of recombinant IL12 p75 heterodimer into TNBS + anti-gp39-treated mice reversed the effect of anti-gp39 and resulted in severe disease activity. In conclusion, these findings suggest that DCs produce IL-12 in response to CD40 signaling, that a mechanism by which IL-4 may induce Th2 development is by acting with IL-10 to inhibit IL-12 production by DCs, and that the CD40L-CD40 interaction is crucial for the IL-12-dependent priming of Th1 T cells in vivo.

Animals↗

High dose oral tolerance in ovalbumin TCR-transgenic mice: systemic neutralization of IL-12 augments TGF-beta secretion and T cell apoptosis.

The immune response to oral Ag administration, including the development of oral tolerance, was explored with the use of OVA TCR-transgenic mice. Feeding high doses of OVA enhanced IFN-gamma production in the Peyer's patches, but induced tolerance in the peripheral lymphoid tissues marked by suppressed proliferative and cytokine responses. Systemic administration of Abs to IL-12 (anti-IL-12) simultaneous with Ag feeding modestly enhanced the degree of tolerance in the peripheral lymphoid tissues, as shown by increased suppression of proliferative responses after in vitro restimulation, and secondary responses in the popliteal lymph nodes following in vivo challenge and in vitro restimulation. Systemic anti-IL-12 treatment was associated with augmented TGF-beta production and T cell apoptosis in both Peyer's patches and peripheral lymphoid tissues. Cell mixing studies and proliferation assays in the presence of anti-TGF-beta provided evidence that the increased suppression of responses induced by anti-IL-12 was due primarily to the secretion of TGF-beta. These findings suggest that IL-12 negatively regulates two of the main mechanisms of oral tolerance, TGF-beta production and clonal deletion via apoptosis. in addition, they suggest that the combination of oral Ag feeding and systemic anti-IL-12 administration may be of benefit in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Administration, Oral↗

Reciprocal regulation of mucosal surface IgA+ B cells by Ig receptor cross-linking and CD40 ligand.

In the present study, we analyze the role of Ig receptor cross-linking in T cell-dependent stimulation of both preswitch (surface IgM+ (sIgM+/sIgD+) B cells and postswitch (sIgA+) B cells. We demonstrate that purified sIgA+ B cells pretreated with anti-IgA-dextran at low concentrations (10 and 100 ng/ml) exhibited an increased response to activated T cells, whereas pretreatment with higher doses (1 and 10 micrograms/ml) led to a profound suppression of IgA secretion (> or = 90%). The suppressive effect of anti-IgA-dextran was accentuated in the presence of IL-2 and attenuated in the presence of IL-4. Anti-IgA-dextran pretreatment had no effect on sIgA+ B cell survival. sIgM+/sIgD+ B cells pretreated with anti-IgD-dextran or anti-IgM-dextran did not show significant inhibition. The increased susceptibility of sIgA+ B cells, but not of sIgM+/sIgD+ B cells, to Ig cross-linking-mediated suppression was confirmed in cross-linking studies with the same Ab (anti-kappa-dextran). Importantly, anti-IgA-dextran-mediated suppression could be reversed by stimulation of sIgA+ B cells with fibroblasts expressing CD40L; such a reversal required persistent exposure to cells expressing high levels of CD40L. These studies imply that Ig receptor cross-linking renders postswitch sIgA+ B cells unresponsive to subsequent stimulation via activated T cells, but this unresponsiveness is overcome by a persistent high level CD40L signal.

Animals↗

Disparate CD4+ lamina propria (LP) lymphokine secretion profiles in inflammatory bowel disease. Crohn's disease LP cells manifest increased secretion of IFN-gamma, whereas ulcerative colitis LP cells manifest increased secretion of IL-5.

In this study, we investigate whether human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease) is associated with altered lymphokine secretion profiles, as recently found in various animal models of chronic intestinal inflammation. In initial studies, we determined the proliferative responses of purified lamina propria (LP) CD4+ T cells from patients with IBD under defined conditions of T cell stimulation. We found that IBD LP CD4+ T cells in comparison with control LP CD4+ T cells have diminished TCR/CD3 pathway proliferative responses, whereas CD2/CD28 accessory pathway proliferative responses are relatively preserved. In further studies centering on lymphokine production, we showed that LP T cells from inflamed Crohn's disease mucosa manifest increased IFN-gamma secretion compared with control LP T cells, particularly when stimulated via the CD2/CD28 pathway. Subsequent ELISPOT analysis indicated that this was due to an increased number of IFN-gamma-secreting CD4+ T cells. In contrast, IL-4 and IL-5 production by Crohn's disease LP T cells was decreased compared with that of control LP T cells. Of interest, IL-2 production by Crohn's disease LP T cells was also reduced, as was IL-2 production by peripheral blood T cells. In parallel studies, LP T cells from inflamed ulcerative colitis mucosa stimulated via either the TCR/CD3/CD28 or CD2/CD28 produced increased amounts of IL-5, again when measured either as secreted IL-5 or by ELISPOT analysis. Such increased IL-5 production was not associated with increased IL-4 secretion and, in contrast to Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis LP T cell production of IL-2 and IFN-gamma was normal. Taken together, these studies provide strong evidence that the immunopathologic process characteristic of the two major forms of IBD is associated with very different cytokine secretion patterns. These different patterns may determine the type of inflammatory process present.

CD2 Antigens↗