Studies of Antibodies to Lipid A and Tamm-Horsfall in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

Sera from patients with inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis (UC), or Crohn's disease (MC) were analysed for antibodies to lipid A and Tamm-Horsfall protein (TH), Escherichia coli O antigens, and food antigens, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, indirect haemagglutination, and thin-layer immunoassay, respectively. C-reactive protein (CRP), an indicator of acute inflammation, was also studied. The MC and UC groups were not separated by any of the factors tested. The extent of the disease, however, seemed to influence the IgG antibody response to lipid A and TH. Patients with extended inflammatory areas in the intestine had decreased anti-lipid-A levels during the active phase of the disease compared with patients with less inflammation. In contrast, the IgG anti-TH levels were increased in these patients during both the active and inactive phases compared with less affected patients. Compared with healthy individuals, MC or UC patients showed decreased IgG anti-lipid-A levels. Both IgG and IgA anti-TH and total anti-O levels were increased compared with controls. Antibodies to cow's milk were lower in patients with inflammatory bowel disease than in the control group. CRP was increased in patients with active inflammatory bowel disease compared with inactive.

Key-words:

• Antibodies
• Crohn's disease
• enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
• Escherichia coli antigens
• food antigens
• lipid A
• Tamm-Horsfall protein
• ulcerative colitis