The mucosal levels of IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8 were significantly higher in both diseased and normal segments of colon in patients with radiation proctitis, compared with normal controls. Only IL-1beta levels were significantly higher in diseased segments, compared with endoscopically normal-appearing segments in radiation proctitis. These results indicate that there is a similarity in the activation of mucosal cytokines between IBD and radiation proctosigmoiditis. This may partly explain the beneficial effects of similar topical and systemic agents such as steroids and mesalamine compounds when used in radiation-induced proctosigmoiditis.

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