Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Lymphocytic Responses to Nonspecific Stimulation in Vitro

Abstract

The in vitro lymphocytic response, measured by deoxyuridine-¹²⁵I uptake, in unstimulated cultures and in phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated cultures in 7 patients with active chronic ulcerative colitis was normal, in contrast to the decreased response to Concanavidin A (Con A) stimulation. Lymphocytes from 13 patients with active Crohn's disease had increased uptake in unstimulated cultures but normal uptake in PHA- and Con A-stimulated cultures. Lymphocytes from patients with chronic ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease showed decreased responses to PHA and Con A stimulation in the immediate postoperarative period, similar to that found in patients who had surgery for conditions other than inflammatory bowel disease.

Key-words:

• Colitis
• ulcerative
• enterocolitis
• regional
• lymphocyte
• stimulation