Increased expression of CCL20 in human inflammatory bowel disease

• Published in: Journal of Clinical Immunology Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 74 - 85
• Main Authors: Kaser, Arthur, Ludwiczek, Othmar, Holzmann, Sandra, Moschen, Alexander R, Weiss, Günter, Enrich, Barbara, Graziadei, Ivo, Dunzendorfer, Stefan, Wiedermann, Christian J, Mürzl, Elisabeth, Grasl, Eveline, Jasarevic, Zerina, Romani, Nikolaus, Offner, Felix A, Tilg, Herbert
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Springer Nature B.V 01.01.2004
• Subjects: Adult; Antibodies - immunology; Antibodies - metabolism; Antigens, CD; Antigens, Surface - immunology; Antigens, Surface - metabolism; Biopsy; Chemokine CCL20; Chemokines, CC - genetics; Chemokines, CC - immunology; Chemokines, CC - metabolism; Colitis, Ulcerative - genetics; Colitis, Ulcerative - immunology; Colitis, Ulcerative - metabolism; Colitis, Ulcerative - pathology; Crohn Disease - genetics; Crohn Disease - immunology; Crohn Disease - metabolism; Crohn Disease - pathology; Dendritic Cells - immunology; Dendritic Cells - metabolism; Epithelium - immunology; Epithelium - metabolism; Epithelium - pathology; Female; Humans; Lectins, C-Type - immunology; Lectins, C-Type - metabolism; Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins - genetics; Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins - immunology; Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins - metabolism; Male; Mannose-Binding Lectins - immunology; Mannose-Binding Lectins - metabolism; Middle Aged; Receptors, CCR6; Receptors, Chemokine - immunology; Receptors, Chemokine - metabolism; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - immunology; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism
• ISSN: 0271-9142; 1573-2592; 1365-2567
• DOI: 10.1023/b:joci.0000018066.46279.6b

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) constituting Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) is related to a dysregulated T cell response. CCL20 attracts memory T lymphocytes and dendritic cells. We asked whether CCL20 expression is altered in IBD. Colonic biopsies were obtained from 114 subjects with IBD, non-IBD colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and healthy controls. CCL20 and CCR6 mRNA expression was measured by Taqman-PCR, and protein secretion from colonic explant cultures (CEC) and its regulation by TNF-alpha by ELISA. CCL20, CCR6, and Langerin were identified by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. CCL20 mRNA and protein were severalfold increased in involved CD and UC but not in non-IBD colitis. TNF-alpha increased and anti-TNF-alpha decreased CCL20 release in healthy control CEC but not in involved IBD colonic specimens. CCL20 localized to follicle-associated epithelium, and CCR6 to the adjacent mantle zone of lymphoid follicles. Furthermore, abundant numbers of Langerin(+) immature dendritic cells were identified in the subepithelial space of IBD specimens. CCL20 might regulate the attraction of T lymphocytes and dendritic cells in IBD.