Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 10(15), p. 1101-1110, 2003
DOI: 10.1097/00042737-200310000-00007
Full text: Unavailable
Background and aims: CD44v6 and CD44v3 are expressed on the surface of colonic epithelial cells in ulcerative colitis to a much greater extent than in Crohn's disease. We investigated mediators that induce CD44v6 and CD44v3 expression on colonic epithelium and the potential role of CD44 in mediating leucocyte-epithelial adhesion. Design and methods: HT-29 cells were exposed to a range of T-helper 1 and T-helper 2 cytokines. Flow cytometry was used to determine their effect on CD44 isoform expression. The adhesion of peripheral blood and lamina propria lymphocytes to HT-29 monolayers was assessed and the effect of induction and blocking of CD44 isoforms was investigated. Results: Treatment of HT-29 cells with IL-4 and IL-13 resulted in a two- to three-fold increase in membrane expression of CD44v6 and CD44v3 isoforms. This was inhibited by T-helper 1 cytokines and hydrocortisone (P