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Biochemical and immunohistochemical analysis of glycosaminoglycans in inflamed and non-inflamed intestinal mucosa of patients with Crohn’s disease

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Abstract

Objectives

Changes in extracellular matrix glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) of the intestinal mucosa have been associated with inflammatory bowel disease. The aim of the present study was to follow the changes in GAGs metabolism during the progression from non-inflamed to inflamed intestinal colon of patients with Crohn’s disease (CD), using direct biochemical analysis and specific immunohistochemistry against chondroitin/dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate.

Design and methods

The content of GAGs from inflamed and non-inflamed colon of eight patients with active CD was estimated by uronic acid per dry weight of tissue and analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis and ion-exchange chromatography. Intestinal sections were stained using antibodies against dermatan sulfate/chondroitin 4-sulfate (DS/CS), heparan sulfate (HS), and ICAM-1 (CD54), and analyzed by confocal microscopy.

Results

There was a reduction in the amount of GAGs in the non-inflamed colon of patients with CD. In the inflamed colon, HS, CS and DS showed increased concentrations compared with the non-inflamed colon. GAGs showed a diffuse distribution in the lamina propria and in the basement membrane of both inflamed and non-inflamed mucosa of patients with CD.

Conclusion

We observed a marked reduction in GAGs with altered patterns of distribution in the non-inflamed colon of patients with CD. The increase in the synthesis of GAGs observed in the inflamed colon may be a compensatory mechanism for the restoration of the integrity of the intestinal mucosa.

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Notes

  1. Numbers represent the median with ranges. Total content of GAGs obtained from the non-inflamed CD are significantly different from those of both the inflamed areas of CD (*p< 0.02) and controls (**p<0.007).

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Brazilian foundations FUJB, CNPq and FAPERJ for financial support, and Dr. Henrique L. Lenzi, for the use of confocal microscopy, Department of Pathology, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Tecido Conjuntivo, Núcleo de Glicobiologia Aplicada, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Departamento de Bioquímica Médica, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Celso L. R. Belmiro & Mauro S. G. Pavão

  2. Laboratório Multidisciplinar de Pesquisa, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Heitor S. P. Souza, Celeste C. S. Elia & Flavia R. Silva

  3. Laboratório de Imunologia Celular, Departamento de Histologia e Embriologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Morgana T. L. Castelo-Branco

  4. Serviço de Cirurgia Geral, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Rosane L. Machado

Authors
  1. Celso L. R. Belmiro
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  2. Heitor S. P. Souza
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  3. Celeste C. S. Elia
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  4. Morgana T. L. Castelo-Branco
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  5. Flavia R. Silva
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  6. Rosane L. Machado
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  7. Mauro S. G. Pavão
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mauro S. G. Pavão.

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Belmiro, C.L.R., Souza, H.S.P., Elia, C.C.S. et al. Biochemical and immunohistochemical analysis of glycosaminoglycans in inflamed and non-inflamed intestinal mucosa of patients with Crohn’s disease. Int J Colorectal Dis 20, 295–304 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-004-0677-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-004-0677-2

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