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Most sporadic colorectal cancers (CRCs) develop from preexisting adenomas. The transition from an adenoma to a CRC leads to disruption in cytokine secretion and immune imbalance.Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a newly discovered proinflammatory cytokine belonging to the IL-1 cytokine family, and involved in the regulation of immune function and development of chronic colorectal inflammation and cancers. However, the activation of the IL33/ST2 axis alongside the colorectal adenoma-carcinoma sequence is poorly understood. Our aim is to evaluate the dynamics between the IL-33/ST2 axis and the human colorectal normaladenoma -carcinoma sequence. The expression of IL-33 in adenomas (n=50) determined by real-time PCR was significantly higher than that in the colorectal mucosa from normal individuals. The expression of IL-33 was also increased in CRCs (n=50) when compared to the normal control group. Significantly lower levels of IL-33 where found in the CRCs compared with the adenomas; moreover, the analysis revealed that a high IL-33 level was associated with a low dysplasia degree in the adenomas, as well as with a statistically nonsignificant increase of survival time in the CRC patients. The increased expression of IL-33 in adenomas/CRCs was confirmed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) which showed that IL-33 immunoreactivity was expressed in the adenomatous/cancerous epithelium, whereas it was undetectable in the normal controls. IHC also confirmed that the IL-33 receptor (ST2) is increased in tumor stromal cells. Double IHCs identified that IL-33 immunoreactivity was in the tumor stromal myofibroblasts and microvessels. In conclusion, the expression of IL-33 in the tumor microenvironment was dynamically altered along the colorectal adenomacarcinoma sequence; and may be a potential predictor for the progression of the adenoma to the CRC.3

TNF-alpha is highly expressed in UC and correlates to the grade of inflammation. The sources of TNF-alpha were observed both in CD3+ lymphocytes and in macrophages. Cytokine expression (mRNA) profiles seem to be similar in patients with moderate to severe UC and CD.

The cytokine profile of H. pylori-infected gastric mucosa shows a mixed Th1-Th2 profile. Furthermore, a high IL10 expression may indicate that also regulatory T cells play a role in the chronic phase of H. pylori infection.

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VAS measures yield reliable symptom evaluation in dairy registrations of IBS. FRD improves symptom scores in IBS patients independent of results from the FBT.

Background The onset of ulcerative colitis (UC) is associated with alterations in lipid metabolism and a disruption of the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules. Only a few studies describe the mucosal lipid biosignatures during active UC. Moreover, the dynamics of lipid metabolism in the remission state is poorly defined. Therefore, this study aims to characterize mucosal lipid profiles in treatment-naïve UC patients and deep remission UC patients compared with healthy subjects. Methods Treatment-naïve UC patients (n = 21), UC patients in deep remission (n = 12), and healthy volunteers (n = 14) were recruited. The state of deep remission was defined by histological and immunological remission defined by a normalized TNF-α gene expression. Mucosa biopsies were collected by colonoscopy. Lipid analysis was performed by means of ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS-MS). In total, 220 lipids from 11 lipid classes were identified. Results The relative concentration of 122 and 36 lipids was altered in UC treatment-naïve patients and UC remission patients, respectively, compared with healthy controls. The highest number of significant variations was in the phosphatidylcholine (PC), ceramide (Cer), and sphingomyelin (SM) composition. Multivariate analysis revealed discrimination among the study groups based on the lipid profile. Furthermore, changes in phosphatidylethanolamine(38:3), Cer(d18:1/24:0), and Cer(d18:1/24:2) were most distinctive between the groups. Conclusion This study revealed a discriminant mucosal lipid composition pattern between treatment-naïve UC patients, deep remission UC patients, and healthy controls. We report several distinctive lipids, which might be involved in the inflammatory response in UC, and could reflect the disease state.

IL-17A and TH17 are highly activated throughout the colorectal adenoma-carcinoma sequence.