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Inflammatory mediators in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases

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Summary

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) of unknown etiology. They are characterized by an activation of intestinal mononuclear cells. Cytokines play a crucial role in the regulation of the functions of these cells. An increased synthesis of the cytokines interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factorα (TNFα), which are primarily synthesized by activated monocytes/macrophages has been described in patients with IBD. The synthesis of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and of interferonγ (IFNγ), which are produced by lymphocytes, on the other hand, has been found to be decreased. The published data are, however, not quite consistent. In patients with IBD there is not only a stimulation of the local cytokine production in the gut. The blood levels and the synthesis of the cytokines IL-1, IL-6 and TNFα by peripheral blood mononuclear cells are also increased, in particular in patients with Crohn's disease. Drugs, which are commonly used for the treatment of IBD impair the synthesis of these cytokines in monocytes/macrophages.

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Abbreviations

IBD:

inflammatory bowel disease

IL-1:

interleukin-1

IL-4:

interleukin-4

IL-5:

interleukin-5

IL-6:

interleukin-6

IL-7:

interleukin-7

IL-8:

interleukin-8

TNFα :

tumor necrosis factorα

ICAM:

intercellular adhesive molecule

ELAM:

endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule

GMCSF:

granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor

PDGF:

platelet derived growth factor

ACTH:

adrenocorticotropic hormon

NK-cells:

natural killer cells

CSF:

colony stimulating factor

UC:

ulcerative colitis

CD:

Crohn's disease

CDAI:

Crohn's disease activity index

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Abteilung für Innere Medizin, Universität Regensburg, Deutschland

    V. Groß, T. Andus, H. -G. Leser, M. Roth &  J. Schölmerich

  2. Medizinische Klinik I Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee, W-8400, Regensburg, FRG

    J. Schölmerich

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  1. V. Groß
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  2. T. Andus
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  3. H. -G. Leser
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  4. M. Roth
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  5. J. Schölmerich
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Manuscripts published in this issue were the matter of a Symposium held at the University of Ulm, April 24–27, 1991

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Groß, V., Andus, T., Leser, H.G. et al. Inflammatory mediators in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases. Klin Wochenschr 69, 981–987 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01645143

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