Are the Focal Microscopic Jejunal Lesions in Crohn's Disease Produced by a T-Cell-Mediated Immune Response?

Abstract

In animal models of intestinal hypersensitivity, lymphocyte-mediated damage to the small-bowel mucosa produces a characteristic pattern of morphologic abnormalities. Similar findings in human jejunal biopsy specimens may also indicate that T cells are involved in a disease process. To test the hypothesis that there is a generalized activation of mucosal T cells throughout the small-intestinal mucosa in Crohn's disease, measurements of the lengths of crypts and villi and intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL) counts were made on jejunal specimens from 33 patients with this condition, and the results compared with the established reference values and with results of specimen measurements in a group of normal subjects. Taken as a group, the specimens from Crohn's patients had abnormal villus length, crypt length, and IEL counts. Focal histologic abnormalities such as ulcers, fissures, or granulomas were present in 10 of the specimens. When specimens with and without a focal abnormality were compared, the former showed shorter villi (median, 249.6 versus 331 microns, p less than 0.01), longer crypts (median, 330.4 versus 108.2 microns, p less than 0.01) and higher IEL counts (60.5 versus 32 IEL/100 enterocytes, p less than 0.01). These findings suggest that there is a mucosal cell-mediated immune response in the jejunum in Crohn's disease and that this is pronounced in the vicinity of microscopic, focal lesions.

Role of microcirculatory disorders in the morphogenesis of fissured ulcers in children with terminal ileitis

“…All three stages of inflammation (alterative, vascular mesenchymal, and proliferative), differently expressed, were observed in different sites of the same block, which is in line with other reports [4][5][6].…”

The role of activated T lymphocytes in gastrointestinal disease

“…The presence of activated T cells in the mucosa is consistent with this notion. Crohn's disease is more enigmatic in that in the areas next to ulcers and fissures there is villous atrophy, crypt cell hyperplasia, and activated T cells are abundant [20,37]. However, the offending antigen(s) are also unknown.…”

Increased Luminal Release of Hyaluronan in Uninvolved Jejunum in Active Crohn’s Disease but Not in Inactive Disease or in Relatives

“…Based on this possibility, the increase in lumi nal HA in CD could be explained by an increased vulnerability of the uninvolved mu cosa in active disease. Support for this has been given by Entrican et al [20] who re ported microscopic jejunal lesions in unin volved mucosa in CD.…”