Abstract
Chemiluminescence (CL) analysis of monocytes and polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) was performed on 13 patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and 10 healthy volunteers. The percentages of monocyte populations in mononuclear cells obtained from the patients with CD were greater than those from the healthy volunteers, but the numbers of PMNs were not different between the two groups. The peak level of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced CL activity generated by diluted whole blood from the patients with CD was more significantly elevated than that from the healthy volunteers, whereas the peak levels of opsonized zymosan-induced CL activity did not differ between the two groups. In monocytes, the peak levels of both PMA- and opsonized zymosan-induced CL activity were significantly higher in the patients with CD than in the healthy volunteers. CL in PMNs, however, showed no significant difference between CD and controls. It is suggested that monocytes of CD have a large capacity to generate active oxygen species. The present study suggests that excessive active oxygen species released by monocytes and perhaps macrophages may play an important role in formation of the intestinal lesions in CD.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ament ME, Ochs HD: Gastrointestinal manifestations of chronic granulomatous disease. N Engl J Med 288:382–387, 1973
Holmes B, Dage AR, Good RA: Studies of the metabolic activity of leukocytes from patients with a genetic abnormality of phagocytic function. J Clin Invest 46:1422–1432, 1967
Baehner RL, Nathan DG, Karnovsky ML: Correction of metabolic deficiencies in the leukocytes of patients with chronic granulomatous disease. J Clin Invest 49:865–870, 1970
Segal AW, Loewi G: Neutrophil dysfunction in Crohn's disease. Lancet 1:219–221, 1976
O'Morain C, Segal AA, Walker D, Levi AJ: Abnormalities of neutrophil function do not cause the migration defect in Crohn's disease. Gut 22:817–822, 1981
Wandall JH, Binder V: Leucocyte function in Crohn's disease. Gut 23:173–180, 1982
Worsaae N, Staehr Johansen K, Christensen KC: Impairedin vitro function of neutrophils in Crohn's disease. Scand J Gastroenterol 17:91–97, 1982
Ward M, Eastwood MA: The nitroblue tetrazolium test in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Digestion 14:179–183, 1976
Krause U, Michaelsson G, Juhlin L: Skin reactivity and phagocytic function of neutrophil leucocytes in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Scand J Gastroenterol 13:71–75, 1978
Ward M: Phagocytic function in Crohn's disease. Z Gastroenterol 17(suppl):116–124, 1979
Curnutte JT, Whitten DM, Babior BM: Defective superoxide production by granulocytes from patients with chronic granulomatous disease. N Engl J Med 290:593–597, 1974
Croften RW, Martina MC, Diesselhoff-Den-Dulk MMC, van Furth R: The origins, kinetics and characteristics of the Kupffer cells in the normal steady state. J Exp Med 148:12–17, 1978
Johnston RB, Lehmeyer JE, Guthrie LA: Generation of Superoxide anion and chemiluminescence by human monocytes during phagocytosis and on contact with surface bound immunoglobulin G. J Exp Med 143:1551–1556, 1976
Verspaget HW, Mieremet-Ooms MAC, Weterman IT, Pena AS: Partial defect of neutrophil oxidative metabolism in Crohn's disease. Gut 25:849–853, 1984
Rhodes JM, Jewell DP: Serum inhibitors of leucocyte chemotaxis in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Gut 20:A911, 1979
Clark RA, Klebanoff SJ: Chemotactic factor inactivation by the myeloperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide-halide system. An inflammatory control mechanism. J Clin Invest 64:913–919, 1979
Watanabe M, Tsuru S, Zinnaka Y, Yoshida T, Aiso S, Hibi T, Asakura H, Tsuchiya M: Demonstration and characterization of immunosuppressive factors in sera from patients with Crohn's disease. J Clin Lab Immunol 17:13–19, 1985
Metzger ZV, Hoffeld JT, Oppenheim JJ: Macrophage-mediated suppression. 1. Evidence for participation of both hydrogen peroxide and prostaglandins in suppression of murine lymphocyte proliferation. J Immunol 124:983–989, 1980
Wallaert B, Aerts C, Bonniere P, Cortet A, Tonnel AB, Paris JC, Voisin C: Superoxide anion generation by alveolar macrophages in Crohn's disease. N Engl J Med 312:444–445, 1985
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was supported by the Grant of Tokuteishitsukan from the Japanese Ministry of Welfare and Health.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kitahora, T., Suzuki, K., Asakura, H. et al. Active oxygen species generated by monocytes and polymorphonuclear cells in Crohn's disease. Digest Dis Sci 33, 951–955 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01535990
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01535990