A pilot study of colonic B cell pattern in irritable bowel syndrome
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Low-grade gastrointestinal inflammation has been reported in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, the colonic B-cell pattern has not been investigated in these patients. Therefore, the aim of this pilot study was to investigate the distribution and isotype of immunoglobulin-producing B cells in the colonic mucosa of IBS patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with IBS (n=12) fulfilling the Rome II criteria were compared with controls (n=11). Immunohistochemical staining of biopsies from the sigmoid and ascending colon was performed. RESULTS: The number of IgA(+) B cells in the ascending colon was lower in IBS patients than in controls (p=0.039). Furthermore, unlike controls, IBS patients had a reduction of IgA(+) B cells in the ascending colon relative to the sigmoid colon (p=0.04). Neither the IgG(+), nor the IgM(+) colonic B-cell numbers differed between IBS patients and controls. Very few colonic IgE(+) cells were detected and there was no difference between the two subject groups. CONCLUSIONS: The reduced number of colonic IgA(+) B cells in IBS patients suggests that the disorder may be associated with a modified gut immune defence. Whether this phenomenon is causally related to symptoms remains unknown and merits further investigation in a larger group of patients.
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Patients with IBS have increased concentrations of inflammatory/immune cells in intestinal tissue compared with controls.
“Evidence supporting this hypothesis includes increased concentrations of inflammatory/immune cells in intestinal tissue from IBS patients, altered levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the GI tract and peripheral blood of patients with IBS (Table 1) (11, 13, 24, 36, 46, 50, 51, 62, 73, 75, 89, 90, 94, 98, 102, 118, 121–124, 168, 174, 185, 187), and IBS-associated polymorphisms in genes”
From Intestinal microbiota and immune function in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (2013) · cites this paper as [62]
Patients with IBS have altered levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the GI tract and peripheral blood compared with controls.
“Evidence supporting this hypothesis includes increased concentrations of inflammatory/immune cells in intestinal tissue from IBS patients, altered levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the GI tract and peripheral blood of patients with IBS (Table 1) (11, 13, 24, 36, 46, 50, 51, 62, 73, 75, 89, 90, 94, 98, 102, 118, 121–124, 168, 174, 185, 187), and IBS-associated polymorphisms in genes”
From Intestinal microbiota and immune function in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (2013) · cites this paper as [62]
A single study reported reduced levels of IgA+ B cells in the ascending but not sigmoid colon of IBS patients compared with controls, whereas levels of IgG+, IgM+, and IgE+ B cells in both the ascending and sigmoid colon were normal.
“Although no differences in total B cell numbers were observed in the colons of IBS patients (46), a single study reported reduced levels of IgA+ B cells in the ascending but not sigmoid colon compared with controls, whereas levels of IgG+, IgM+, and IgE+ B cells in both the ascending and sigmoid colon were normal (62).”
From Intestinal microbiota and immune function in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (2013) · cites this paper as [62]
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- Authors
- Forshammar, J., Isaksson, S., Strid, H., Stotzer, P.-O., Sjövall, H., Simrén, M., & Öhman, L.
- Affiliations
- University of Gothenburg (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Öhman, Lena
- Venue
- Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2008-01
- Volume
- 43
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 1461-1466
- ISSN
- 0036-5521 (ISSN-L)
- 1502-7708
- OpenAlex
- W2073178565
- Cited by
- 33
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 2.29
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Keywords
- irritable bowel syndrome, immunoglobulin A, antibody isotypes, colonic mucosa, ascending colon, sigmoid colon
- MeSH terms
- Adult, B-Lymphocytes, Colon, Female, Humans, Immunoglobulin A, Immunoglobulin E, Immunoglobulin M, Inflammation, Male, Middle Aged, Pilot Projects, Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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