Colonic mast cell numbers, symptom profile, and mucosal expression of elements of the epithelial barrier in irritable bowel syndrome

• Published in: Journal of neurogastroenterology and motility Vol. 31; no. 11; pp. e13701 - n/a
• Main Authors: Sundin, Johanna, Nordlander, Sofia, Eutamene, Helene, Alquier‐Bacquie, Valerie, Cartier, Christel, Theodorou, Vassilia, Le Nevé, Boris, Törnblom, Hans, Simrén, Magnus, Öhman, Lena
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.11.2019; Korean Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility
• Subjects: abdominal-pain; activation; anxiety; barrier integrity; challenges; Colon; correlate; disease; Gastroenterologi; Gastroenterology & Hepatology; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Gene expression; intestinal; Intestine; Irritable bowel syndrome; Life Sciences; Localization; mast cells; Mucosa; Nerves; Neurosciences; Neurosciences & Neurology; Neurovetenskaper; permeability; Serine; Serine proteinase; severity; symptom severity; system; Toxicology; intestinal; symptom severity; barrier integrity; mast cells; irritable bowel syndrome
• ISSN: 1350-1925; 2093-0879; 1365-2982; 2093-0887
• DOI: 10.1111/nmo.13701

Background This study aimed to determine whether patients with IBS displayed altered mucosal mast cell (MC) numbers and proportions of MCs co‐localizing with nerves compared with healthy subjects (HS) and whether these MC characteristics correlated with IBS symptoms, elements of the epithelial barrier, or visceral sensitivity. Methods Mucosal MC characteristics were determined using immunoassay. IBS symptoms, gene expression of elements of the epithelial barrier, fecal serine protease activity, and visceral sensitivity were assessed. Key Results The MC numbers per mm2 were 2.0 (0.0‐6.0) in patients with IBS (n = 43) and 3.5 (1.1‐9.1) in HS (n = 20, P = .26). Of these, MCs were 0.0 (0.0‐20) % vs 3.1 (0.0‐18) % (P = .76) in IBS and HS, respectively, in co‐localization with nerve fibers. MC characteristics were equivalent in the different IBS subtypes. Hierarchical cluster analysis identified two distinct groups among patients with IBS: MC high (higher MC numbers and proportions of MCs co‐localizing with nerves) and MC low (lower MC numbers and proportions of MCs co‐localizing with nerves). The MC high and MC low groups could not be discriminated with regard to IBS symptoms, parameters of visceral sensitivity, gene expression of elements of the epithelial barrier, and fecal protease activity. Conclusion and Inferences There was no evidence of increased infiltration or altered localization of MCs in the colonic mucosa of patients with IBS. These MC characteristics were not linked to global IBS symptoms or mucosal expression of elements of the epithelial barrier. These findings indicate that quantity and location of mucosal MCs are factors not involved in the pathophysiology of IBS. Colonic mast cell numbers were similar in healthy subjects and IBS patients, and were not linked to global IBS symptoms, visceral sensitivity or altered expression of elements of the epithelial barrier.