No abstract

SUMMARYIL-8 is generating increasing interest as a powerful neutrophil chemoattractant and activator. To elucidate the mechanisms of neutrophil infiltration in inflammatory bowel disease, we examined 33 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), 18 with Crohn's disease (CD), eight with some other type of colitis, and 18 normal control subjects for measurement of IL-8 in homogenates of colonic biopsy specimens. The affected colonic mucosa was found to contain significantly more IL-8 in patients with active inflammatory bowel disease than in patients with inactive disease (UC, P<0-001; CD, P < 0-001), in patients with other types of colitis (UC, P < 0 05; CD, P < 0-0 1), or in normal control subjects (UC, P<0-001; CD, P<0-001). Colonic IL-8 levels correlated significantly with the macroscopic grade of local inflammation, especially in patients with UC (P< 0-001). Colonic IL-8 levels also correlated well with the neutrophil numbers in mucosal tissue (UC, r = 0-950, P <0-001; CD, r = 0 940, P < 0-001), and with colonic IL-1I (r = 0-91 1, P < 0-001) and tumour necrosis factoralpha (TNF-a) levels (r = 0-604, P < 0-001 ) in patients with these two conditions. These data suggest a potential role for IL-8 and its regulatory cytokines IL-1 and TNF-a in mediating neutrophil infiltration of the gut wall in inflammatory bowel disease.

Background Germinated barley foodstuff (GBF) has been shown to attenuate intestinal injury in animal models, largely by increasing luminal short‐chain fatty acid production. Aim To investigate the safety and efficacy of GBF in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods Ten patients with active UC received 30 g of GBF daily for 4 weeks in an open‐label treatment protocol while the baseline anti‐inflammatory therapy was continued. The response to treatment was evaluated clinically and endoscopically. Pre‐ and post‐treatment stool concentrations of short‐chain fatty acids were measured by gas‐liquid chromatography. Results Patients showed improvement in their clinical activity index scores, with a significant decrease in the score from 6.9 ± 1.4 to 2.8 ± 1.5 (mean ± S.E.M., P < 0.05). The endoscopic index score fell from 6.1 ± 2.3 to 3.8 ± 2.3 (P < 0.0001). Patients showed an increase in stool butyrate concentrations after GBF treatment (P < 0.05). No side‐effects were observed. Conclusions Oral GBF therapy may have a place in management of ulcerative colitis, but controlled studies are needed to demonstrate its efficacy in the treatment of this disorder.

No abstract

The feeding of GBF promotes bacterial butyrate production and improves intestinal barrier function in rats, resulting in mitigation of experimental colitis.