Study on activation of CD27-CD70 co-stimulatory pathway in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

Objective To investigate the expression of CD27-CD70 co-stimulatory pathway in peripheral circulation and intestinal mucosa of patients with inflammatory bowel disease, and to find the difference between the expression of CD27-CD70 in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and in healthy controls. Methods A total of 62 patients with Crohn's disease, 64 patients with ulcerative colitis and 56 healthy controls were enrolled. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was applied to evaluate plasma CD27-CD70 protein expression in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and healthy controls. SYBR-green real time PCR was applied to access CD27-CD70 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and healthy controls.And CD27-CD70 protein expression in intestinal mucosa was determined by immunohitochemistry.Results Plasma levels of CD27 (P=0. 025) and CD70 (P=0. 000) were significantly higher in patients with Crohn's disease than in healthy controls. However, CD27 (r= 0. 055, P= 0. 673) and CD70 (r= 0. 024, P = 0. 852) were not significantly associated with endoscopic disease activity in patients with Crohn's disease. Similarly, CD27 (P=0. 001) and CD70 (P=0. 000) were significantly higher in patients with ulcerative colitis than in healthy controls. And CD27 (r=0. 077, P=0. 547)and CDT0 (r=0.021, P=0. 869) were not significantly associated with endoscopic disease activity in patients with ulcerative colitis. Moreover, CD27 and CD70 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were significantly higher in patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis than in healthy controls (all P=0. 000), and immunostaining indicated that CD27 and CD70 expression in intestinal mucosa were significantly higher in patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis than in healthy controls (all P=0. 000). Conclusions CD27-CD70 pathway activated in plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells and intestinal mucosa of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. However,plasma levels of CD27 and CD70 can not reflect endoscopic disease activity. Key words: Crohn's disease; Ulcerative colitis; Antigens; CD27; Antigens; CD70