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Interleukin-2-Deficient Mice: Effect on Cytokines and Inflammatory Cells in Chronic Colonic Disease

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Abstract

Mice deficient in interleukin-2 (IL-2−/−) develop inflammatory bowel disease resembling human ulcerative colitis. After death, macroscopic and microscopic scores were used to determine colonic inflammation. Both scores were significantly increased in the colon of IL-2 −/− mice as compared to wild types mice. The level of IL-1β 24-week-old was increased in IL-2 −/− mice produced by the colon as compared with IL-2 +/+ controls. However, the concentrations of IL-6 and IL-10 were not changed. The spleen weight of IL-2 −/− mice was significantly increased compared with IL-2 +/+ controls. We used immunochemical techniques in low-temperature paraffin-embedded spleen of IL-2 −/− mice to examine pathological changes of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and CD11b+ cells. The tissue was successfully stained and was well preserved. The percentage CD4+ T cells was not significantly changed, while the percentage CD8+ T cells was significantly decreased in IL-2 −/− mice compared with IL-2 +/+ controls. On the other hand, the percentage CD11b+ cells was significantly increased in the spleen of IL-2 −/− mice compared with IL-2 +/+ controls. As well as the marked difference in CD8+ and CD11b+ cells in the spleen, the increased level of IL-1β in colonic tissue might indicate that cytotoxic T cells as well as macrophages are involved in the development and/or perpetuation of the inflammatory reactions in IL-2 −/− mice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    I.M. Garrelds

  2. Department of Pharmacology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    M.E. van Meeteren

  3. Department of Gastroenterology, Westeinde Hospital, Medical Center, Haaglanden, The Netherlands

    M.A.C. Meijssen

  4. Department of Anesthesiology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    F.J. Zijlstra

Authors
  1. I.M. Garrelds
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  2. M.E. van Meeteren
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  3. M.A.C. Meijssen
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  4. F.J. Zijlstra
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Garrelds, I., van Meeteren, M., Meijssen, M. et al. Interleukin-2-Deficient Mice: Effect on Cytokines and Inflammatory Cells in Chronic Colonic Disease. Dig Dis Sci 47, 503–510 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017995414697

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