Corticotropin-releasing factor receptor subtype 2 in human colonic mucosa: down-regulation in ulcerative colitis.

Abstract

AIM:

To assess corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 2 (CRF2) expression in the colon of healthy subjects and patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).

METHODS:

We examined CRF2 gene and protein expression in the distal/sigmoid colonic mucosal biopsies from healthy subjects and patients with UC (active or disease in remission), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and functional bowel disease (FBD) by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence.

RESULTS:

Gene expression of CRF2 was demonstrated in the normal human colonic biopsies, but not in the human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line Caco2. Receptor protein localization showed immunoreactive CRF2 receptors in the lamina propria and in the epithelial cells of the distal/sigmoid biopsy samples. Interestingly, CRF2 immunoreactivity was no longer observed in epithelial cells of patients with mild-moderately active UC and disease in remission, while receptor protein expression did not change in the lamina propria. No differences in CRF2 expression profile were observed in distal/sigmoid intestinal biopsies from HIV infection and FBD patients, showing no signs of inflammation.

CONCLUSION:

The down-regulation of the CRF2 receptor in the distal/sigmoid biopsies of UC patients is indicative of change in CRF2 signalling associated with the process of inflammation.

• Authors: Ekaterini Chatzaki, Peter A Anton, Mulugeta Million, Maria Lambropoulou, Theodoros Constantinidis, George Kolios, Yvette Taché, Dimitri E Grigoriadis
• Journal: World journal of gastroenterology (World J Gastroenterol) Vol. 19 Issue 9 Pg. 1416-23 (Mar 07 2013) ISSN: 2219-2840 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23539366 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• CRF receptor type 2
• Gastrointestinal Agents
• Genetic Markers
• Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (therapeutic use)
• Biopsy
• Caco-2 Cells
• Case-Control Studies
• Colitis, Ulcerative (diagnosis, drug therapy, genetics, metabolism)
• Colon (drug effects, metabolism)
• Down-Regulation
• Female
• Gastrointestinal Agents (therapeutic use)
• Genetic Markers
• Humans
• Intestinal Mucosa (drug effects, metabolism)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (drug effects, genetics, metabolism)
• Severity of Illness Index