TY - JOUR
T1 - The constitutive expression of galectin-3 is downregulated in the intestinal epithelia of Crohn's disease patients, and tumour necrosis factor alpha decreases the level of galectin-3-specific mRNA in HCT-8 cells
AU - Jensen-Jarolim, Erika
AU - Gscheidlinger, Regina
AU - Oberhuber, Georg
AU - Neuchrist, Czilla
AU - Lucas, Trevor
AU - Bises, Giovanna
AU - Radauer, Christian
AU - Willheim, Martin
AU - Scheiner, Otto
AU - Liu, Fu-Tong
AU - Boltz-Nitulescu, George
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - Objective: Galectin-3, a lectin with specificity for beta galactoside, is expressed by a variety of cells, including intestinal epithelial cells. Among other functions, galectin-3 mediates cell adhesion and is involved in inflammatory processes. In this study, we assessed the expression of galectin-3 in intestinal epithelial cells from Crohn's disease patients (n = 10), ileum adjacent to resected colon carcinoma (n = 9), unspecific bowel inflammation (n = 1), diverticulosis (n = 1), ulcerative colitis (n = 3) and healthy jejunum used for interposition in larynx carcinoma (n = 1). The role of cytokines on galectin-3 expression was a further aim of our study. Methods: The galectin-3 distribution in intestinal epithelia was analysed by immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, immunofluorescence and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Human intestinal epithelial cell line (HCT-8) and primary cultured intestinal epithelial cells were treated with cytokines, and the effects on galectin-3 expression were determined by RT-PCR. Results: Galectin-3 showed a homogeneous distribution in epithelia from control patients. In contrast, in epithelial cells from Crohn's disease lesions, galectin-3 staining was strongly spotted and heterogeneous. In inflamed and reorganized tissue, galectin-3 expression was markedly reduced, and was associated with disintegration of epithelia. Primary cultured epithelial cells as well as HCT-8 cells expressed galectin-3 protein and mRNA. Incubation of HCT-8 cells with tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), but not with other cytokines, substantially reduced galectin-3 expression as shown by semiquantitative RT-PCR. Conclusions: Downregulation of galectin-3 in the intestinal epithelium of Crohn's disease patients may be a consequence of enhanced TNF-α production by inflammatory cells, thereby contributing to the pathophysiology of the disease.
AB - Objective: Galectin-3, a lectin with specificity for beta galactoside, is expressed by a variety of cells, including intestinal epithelial cells. Among other functions, galectin-3 mediates cell adhesion and is involved in inflammatory processes. In this study, we assessed the expression of galectin-3 in intestinal epithelial cells from Crohn's disease patients (n = 10), ileum adjacent to resected colon carcinoma (n = 9), unspecific bowel inflammation (n = 1), diverticulosis (n = 1), ulcerative colitis (n = 3) and healthy jejunum used for interposition in larynx carcinoma (n = 1). The role of cytokines on galectin-3 expression was a further aim of our study. Methods: The galectin-3 distribution in intestinal epithelia was analysed by immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, immunofluorescence and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Human intestinal epithelial cell line (HCT-8) and primary cultured intestinal epithelial cells were treated with cytokines, and the effects on galectin-3 expression were determined by RT-PCR. Results: Galectin-3 showed a homogeneous distribution in epithelia from control patients. In contrast, in epithelial cells from Crohn's disease lesions, galectin-3 staining was strongly spotted and heterogeneous. In inflamed and reorganized tissue, galectin-3 expression was markedly reduced, and was associated with disintegration of epithelia. Primary cultured epithelial cells as well as HCT-8 cells expressed galectin-3 protein and mRNA. Incubation of HCT-8 cells with tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), but not with other cytokines, substantially reduced galectin-3 expression as shown by semiquantitative RT-PCR. Conclusions: Downregulation of galectin-3 in the intestinal epithelium of Crohn's disease patients may be a consequence of enhanced TNF-α production by inflammatory cells, thereby contributing to the pathophysiology of the disease.
KW - Cytokines
KW - Epithelial cells
KW - Inflammatory bowel disease
KW - Lectins
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U2 - 10.1097/00042737-200202000-00008
DO - 10.1097/00042737-200202000-00008
M3 - Article
C2 - 11981338
AN - SCOPUS:0036172229
VL - 14
SP - 145
EP - 152
JO - European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
JF - European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
SN - 0954-691X
IS - 2
ER -