Publications (367) View all
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Article: Epithelial expression of interleukin-37b in inflammatory bowel disease.
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ABSTRACT: Interleukin (IL)-37 is a member of the IL-1 cytokine family. We investigated IL-37b expression in the inflamed mucosa of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Furthermore, we analysed IL-37b expression in human colonic epithelial cells. The human colonic epithelial cell line T84 and human colonic subepithelial myofibroblasts (SEMFs) were used. IL-37b expression in the IBD mucosa was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. IL-37b mRNA and protein expression were determined by real time-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blotting, respectively. IL-37b was not detected in the normal colonic mucosa. In the inflamed mucosa of IBD patients, epithelial IL-37b expression was increased markedly. In ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) patients, IL-37b expression was enhanced in the affected mucosa. In the intestinal epithelial cell line T84, the expression of IL-37b mRNA and protein was enhanced by tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α. This IL-37b induction by TNF-α was mediated by nuclear factor (NF)-κB and activator protein (AP)-1 activation. Furthermore, IL-37b inhibited TNF-α-induced interferon-γ-inducible protein (IP)-10 expression significantly in human colonic SEMFs. Epithelial IL-37b expression was increased in IBD patients, especially UC patients. IL-37b may be involved in the pathophysiology of IBD as an anti-inflammatory cytokine and an inhibitor of both innate and acquired immune responses.Clinical & Experimental Immunology 06/2013; 172(3):410-6. · 3.36 Impact Factor -
Article: Faecal microbiota profile of Crohn’s disease determined by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis
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ABSTRACT: Background Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analyses are powerful tools to assess the diversity of complex microbiota. T-RFLPs permit rapid comparisons of microbiota from many samples.Aim To perform T-RFLP analyses of faecal microbiota in Crohn’s disease (CD) patients to investigate potential alterations in faecal microbial communities and furthermore to analyse the effects of elemental diet on faecal microbiota profiles.Methods Thirty-four patients with CD and 30 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. DNA was extracted from stool samples and 16S rRNA genes were amplified by PCR. PCR products were digested with BslI restriction enzymes and T-RF lengths were determined.Results Faecal microbial communities were classified into seven clusters. Almost all healthy individuals (28/30) were included in cluster I, II and III, but the majority of CD patients (25/34) could be divided into another four clusters (cluster IV–VII). Prediction of bacteria based on the BslI-digested T-RFLP database showed a significant decrease in Clostridium cluster IV, Clostridium cluster XI and subcluster XIVa in CD patients. In contrast, Bacteroides significantly increased in CD patients. Significant increases in Enterobacteriales were also observed in CD patients. Furthermore, elemental diets modulated faecal bacterial communities in CD patients.Conclusions Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses showed that the diversity of faecal microbiota in patients with CD differed from that of healthy individuals. Furthermore, elemental diets modulated faecal microbiota composition, and this effect may be involved in mechanisms of clinical effects of elemental diet.Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics 09/2008; 29(1):75 - 82. · 3.77 Impact Factor -
Article: Novel single-balloon enteroscopy for diagnosis and treatment of the small intestine: preliminary experiences.
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ABSTRACT: As a tool for examining the small intestine, double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) has been used routinely. However, there remain a few issues relating to the handling of DBE, such as attaching a balloon to the tip of the scope, and inflating/deflating the two balloon systems. Recently, we developed a novel single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE) system for the examination of the small intestine. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the insertion technique, the safety, and the clinical impact of the SBE system. Between January 2006 and June 2007, all patients undergoing enteroscopy with the Olympus SBE system (length 200 cm, outer diameter 9.2 mm) were studied. Instead of a balloon attached to the distal scope end, the distal scope end was hook-shaped, and manipulating the up-angle or down-angle of the scope end enabled exploration of the small intestine. A total of 78 procedures were performed in 41 patients (24 men, 17 women; mean age 48.9 years, range 23 - 85 years). The indications for the examination were suspected mid-gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 12), Crohn's disease (n = 17), abdominal pain (n = 8), and abdominal tumor (n = 4). The mean procedure time was 62.8 +/- 20.2 minutes and 70.4 +/- 19.3 minutes for the oral and anal routes, respectively. Among 24 patients in whom total enteroscopy was attempted, the entire small intestine was explored in 6. SBE is not only easy to perform, due to the single balloon, but it can also safely examine the deep small intestine. Therefore, SBE may be a useful diagnostic and therapeutic tool in addition to DBE for investigating suspected small bowel disease.Endoscopy 02/2008; 40(1):11-5. · 5.21 Impact Factor -
Article: Lower-Dose and Long-Term Intermittent Interferon Therapy for Hepatitis C Genotype 2a may be a Possibility
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ABSTRACT: We report two recent, successful cases in treating active chronic hepatitis C patients (genotype 2a) with a lower-dose and long-term intermittent interferon therapy. Case 1: A 67-year-old female received IFN-alpha 3 MU twice a week. Biochemical and virological remissions were achieved after 4 weeks and 14 months, respectively. We changed the IFN to pegylated-interferon alpha-2a (P-IFN) 45 μg once a week. After which, we successfully reduced the frequency of injections to once a month while maintaining both remissions. Case 2: A 61-year-old male had received a conventional genetical recombination interferon therapy. However, the hepatitis recurred. He was given IFN-alpha 3 MU once a week. A biochemical remission was achieved after 3 months. After 7 months, we changed the IFN to P-IFN 90 μg once a week, and a virological remission soon occurred. Then, we also could reduce the frequency to once every two months. Our novel strategy using P-IFN is safe and economic.International Journal of Biomedical Science. 01/2008; -
Article: Epithelial overexpression of interleukin-32alpha in inflammatory bowel disease.
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ABSTRACT: Interleukin (IL)-32 is a recently described proinflammatory cytokine, characterized by induction of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activation. We studied IL-32alpha expression in the inflamed mucosa of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We also investigated mechanisms regulating IL-32alpha expression. Tissue samples were obtained endoscopically or surgically from patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) (n = 10), Crohn's disease (CD) (n = 10), ischaemic colitis (n = 4) and normal colorectal tissues (n = 10). IL-32alpha expression was evaluated by standard immunohistochemical procedure. IL-32 mRNA expression was analysed by Northern blot. IL-32alpha was expressed weakly by colonic epithelial cells from normal individuals and subjects with ischaemic colitis. In the inflamed mucosa of IBD patients, epithelial IL-32alpha expression was increased markedly. In UC and CD patients, IL-32alpha expression was enhanced in affected mucosa compared to non-affected mucosa. In intestinal epithelial cell lines, expression of IL-32alpha mRNA and protein was enhanced by IL-1beta, interferon (IFN)-gamma and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. A combination of TNF-alpha plus IFN-gamma exerted synergistic effects. IL-32alpha induction by IL-1beta and/or TNF-alpha was mediated by NF-kappaB activation. Epithelial IL-32alpha expression was increased in IBD patients, and in CD patients in particular. IL-32alpha might be involved in the pathophysiology of IBD as a proinflammatory cytokine and a mediator of innate immune response.Clinical & Experimental Immunology 10/2007; 149(3):480-6. · 3.36 Impact Factor
