Specific Inhibition of the in Vitro Migration of Leucocytes in Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease

Abstract

Specific antigen-induced inhibition of the migration of human peripheral leucocytes in vitro seems to be a parameter of cellular (delayed type) hypersensitivity. Leucocyte migration studies in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are presented. The migration in vitro of leucocytes from patients with ulcerative colitis appears to be inhibited by colonic as well as by jejunoileal mucosa homogenate, and the inhibition is most marked in the clinically active cases. In Crohn's disease no inhibition is observed. Further studies are needed to classify the exact character of this specific reactivity, which may be expressive of a state of cellular hypersensitivity towards components of intestinal mucosa.

Index-words:

• Colon
• colitis, ulcerative
• colonic diseases
• autoimmune diseases
• hypersensitivity
• immunology