Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Clinical Pathology logoLink to Journal of Clinical Pathology
. 1987 Mar;40(3):312–317. doi: 10.1136/jcp.40.3.312

Class II antigen (HLA-DR) expression by intestinal epithelial cells in inflammatory diseases of colon.

G B McDonald, D P Jewell
PMCID: PMC1140906  PMID: 3558865

Abstract

Eighty four colonic biopsy specimens were obtained from patients with ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, radiation colitis, infectious colitis, and from normal controls. Paired specimens were examined by histological and immunohistochemical methods using monoclonal antibodies to the beta chain of HLA-DR antigen. The expression of HLA-DR antigen in mucosal epithelial cells was strongly related to whether the specimens were actively inflamed: epithelial cells from 34 of 37 inflamed specimens (nu three of 42 non-inflamed specimens) were HLA-DR positive (p less than 0.0001). Epithelial cells were uniformly HLA-DR negative in specimens from normal control patients despite the presence of HLA-DR positive lymphoid cells and macrophages in the lamina propria. Epithelial cells in specimens from patients with ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and radiation colitis were HLA-DR positive in 30 of 33 inflamed biopsy specimens and in only three of 25 non-inflamed specimens (p less than 0.0001). Epithelial cells were HLA-DR positive in nine of 10 biopsy specimens from patients with acute infectious colitis (p less than 0.01).

Full text

PDF

Images in this article

314Fig 1
on p.314

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Ballardini G., Mirakian R., Bianchi F. B., Pisi E., Doniach D., Bottazzo G. F. Aberrant expression of HLA-DR antigens on bileduct epithelium in primary biliary cirrhosis: relevance to pathogenesis. Lancet. 1984 Nov 3;2(8410):1009–1013. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(84)91108-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Barclay A. N., Mason D. W. Graft rejection and Ia antigens--paradox resolved? Nature. 1983 Jun 2;303(5916):382–383. doi: 10.1038/303382b0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Barclay A. N., Mason D. W. Induction of Ia antigen in rat epidermal cells and gut epithelium by immunological stimuli. J Exp Med. 1982 Dec 1;156(6):1665–1676. doi: 10.1084/jem.156.6.1665. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Berman B., Duncan M. R., Smith B., Ziboh V. A., Palladino M. Interferon enhancement of HLA-DR antigen expression on epidermal Langerhans cells. J Invest Dermatol. 1985 Jan;84(1):54–58. doi: 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12274691. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Bottazzo G. F., Pujol-Borrell R., Hanafusa T., Feldmann M. Role of aberrant HLA-DR expression and antigen presentation in induction of endocrine autoimmunity. Lancet. 1983 Nov 12;2(8359):1115–1119. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(83)90629-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Cerf-Bensussan N., Quaroni A., Kurnick J. T., Bhan A. K. Intraepithelial lymphocytes modulate Ia expression by intestinal epithelial cells. J Immunol. 1984 May;132(5):2244–2252. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Daar A. S., Fuggle S. V., Fabre J. W., Ting A., Morris P. J. The detailed distribution of MHC Class II antigens in normal human organs. Transplantation. 1984 Sep;38(3):293–298. doi: 10.1097/00007890-198409000-00019. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Daar A. S., Fuggle S. V., Ting A., Fabre J. W. Anomolous expression of HLA-DR antigens on human colorectal cancer cells. J Immunol. 1982 Aug;129(2):447–449. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Elson C. O., Graeff A. S., James S. P., Strober W. Covert suppressor T cells in Crohn's disease. Gastroenterology. 1981 Jun;80(6):1513–1521. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Elson C. O., Machelski E., Weiserbs D. B. T cell-B cell regulation in the intestinal lamina propria in Crohn's disease. Gastroenterology. 1985 Aug;89(2):321–327. doi: 10.1016/0016-5085(85)90332-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Fiocchi C., Battisto J. R., Farmer R. G. Gut mucosal lymphocytes in inflammatory bowel disease: isolation and preliminary functional characterization. Dig Dis Sci. 1979 Sep;24(9):705–717. doi: 10.1007/BF01314469. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Fiocchi C., Youngman K. R., Farmer R. G. Immunoregulatory function of human intestinal mucosa lymphoid cells: evidence for enhanced suppressor cell activity in inflammatory bowel disease. Gut. 1983 Aug;24(8):692–701. doi: 10.1136/gut.24.8.692. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Fontana A., Fierz W., Wekerle H. Astrocytes present myelin basic protein to encephalitogenic T-cell lines. Nature. 1984 Jan 19;307(5948):273–276. doi: 10.1038/307273a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Gatter K. C., Pulford K. A., Vanstapel M. J., Roach B., Mortimer P., Woolston R. E., Taylor-Papadimitriou J., Lane E. B., Mason D. Y. An immunohistological study of benign and malignant skin tumours: epithelial aspects. Histopathology. 1984 Mar;8(2):209–227. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.1984.tb02337.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Goodacre R. L., Bienenstock J. Reduced suppressor cell activity in intestinal lymphocytes from patients with Crohn's disease. Gastroenterology. 1982 Apr;82(4):653–658. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. James S. P., Neckers L. M., Graeff A. S., Cossman J., Balch C. M., Strober W. Suppression of immunoglobulin synthesis by lymphocyte subpopulations in patients with Crohn's disease. Gastroenterology. 1984 Jun;86(6):1510–1518. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Kelley V. E., Fiers W., Strom T. B. Cloned human interferon-gamma, but not interferon-beta or -alpha, induces expression of HLA-DR determinants by fetal monocytes and myeloid leukemic cell lines. J Immunol. 1984 Jan;132(1):240–245. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. King D. P., Jones P. P. Induction of Ia and H-2 antigens on a macrophage cell line by immune interferon. J Immunol. 1983 Jul;131(1):315–318. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Klareskog L., Tjernlund U., Forsum U., Peterson P. A. Epidermal Langerhans cells express Ia antigens. Nature. 1977 Jul 21;268(5617):248–250. doi: 10.1038/268248a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Lafuse W. P., David C. S. Ia antigens: genes, molecules and function. Transplantation. 1984 Nov;38(5):443–453. doi: 10.1097/00007890-198411000-00001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Londei M., Lamb J. R., Bottazzo G. F., Feldmann M. Epithelial cells expressing aberrant MHC class II determinants can present antigen to cloned human T cells. Nature. 1984 Dec 13;312(5995):639–641. doi: 10.1038/312639a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Mason D. W., Dallman M., Barclay A. N. Graft-versus-host disease induces expression of Ia antigen in rat epidermal cells and gut epithelium. Nature. 1981 Sep 10;293(5828):150–151. doi: 10.1038/293150a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Natali P. G., Segatto O., Ferrone S., Tosi R., Corte G. Differential tissue distribution and ontogeny of DC-1 and HLA-DR antigens. Immunogenetics. 1984;19(2):109–116. doi: 10.1007/BF00387853. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Pujol-Borrell R., Hanafusa T., Chiovato L., Bottazzo G. F. Lectin-induced expression of DR antigen on human cultured follicular thyroid cells. Nature. 1983 Jul 7;304(5921):71–73. doi: 10.1038/304071a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Ready A. R., Jenkinson E. J., Kingston R., Owen J. J. Successful transplantation across major histocompatibility barrier of deoxyguanosine-treated embryonic thymus expressing class II antigens. Nature. 1984 Jul 19;310(5974):231–233. doi: 10.1038/310231a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Reilly S., Human R. P. Gardnerella vaginalis: pathogen or commensal? Lancet. 1983 Jul 9;2(8341):111–111. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(83)90102-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Scott H., Solheim B. G., Brandtzaeg P., Thorsby E. HLA-DR-like antigens in the epithelium of the human small intestine. Scand J Immunol. 1980;12(1):77–82. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3083.1980.tb00043.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Selby W. S., Janossy G., Goldstein G., Jewell D. P. T lymphocyte subsets in human intestinal mucosa: the distribution and relationship to MHC-derived antigens. Clin Exp Immunol. 1981 Jun;44(3):453–458. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Selby W. S., Janossy G., Mason D. Y., Jewell D. P. Expression of HLA-DR antigens by colonic epithelium in inflammatory bowel disease. Clin Exp Immunol. 1983 Sep;53(3):614–618. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Selby W. S., Poulter L. W., Hobbs S., Jewell D. P., Janossy G. Heterogeneity of HLA-DR-positive histiocytes in human intestinal lamina propria: a combined histochemical and immunohistological analysis. J Clin Pathol. 1983 Apr;36(4):379–384. doi: 10.1136/jcp.36.4.379. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Sinclair G. D., Wadgymar A., Halloran P. F., Delovitch T. L. Graft-vs-host reactions induce H-2 class II gene transcription in host kidney cells. Immunogenetics. 1984;20(5):503–511. doi: 10.1007/BF00364353. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Steeg P. S., Moore R. N., Johnson H. M., Oppenheim J. J. Regulation of murine macrophage Ia antigen expression by a lymphokine with immune interferon activity. J Exp Med. 1982 Dec 1;156(6):1780–1793. doi: 10.1084/jem.156.6.1780. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Steinmetz M., Hood L. Genes of the major histocompatibility complex in mouse and man. Science. 1983 Nov 18;222(4625):727–733. doi: 10.1126/science.6356354. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Suitters A. J., Lampert I. A. Expression of Ia antigen on epidermal keratinocytes is a consequence of cellular immunity. Br J Exp Pathol. 1982 Apr;63(2):207–213. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Surawicz C. M., Belic L. Rectal biopsy helps to distinguish acute self-limited colitis from idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease. Gastroenterology. 1984 Jan;86(1):104–113. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Sztein M. B., Steeg P. S., Johnson H. M., Oppenheim J. J. Regulation of human peripheral blood monocyte DR antigen expression in vitro by lymphokines and recombinant interferons. J Clin Invest. 1984 Feb;73(2):556–565. doi: 10.1172/JCI111243. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Torok-Storb B., Nepom G. T., Nepom B. S., Hansen J. A. HLA-DR antigens on lymphoid cells differ from those on myeloid cells. Nature. 1983 Oct 6;305(5934):541–543. doi: 10.1038/305541a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Walker E. B., Maino V., Sanchez-Lanier M., Warner N., Stewart C. Murine gamma interferon activates the release of a macrophage-derived Ia-inducing factor that transfers Ia inductive capacity. J Exp Med. 1984 May 1;159(5):1532–1547. doi: 10.1084/jem.159.5.1532. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Wong G. H., Bartlett P. F., Clark-Lewis I., Battye F., Schrader J. W. Inducible expression of H-2 and Ia antigens on brain cells. Nature. 1984 Aug 23;310(5979):688–691. doi: 10.1038/310688a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Wong G. H., Clark-Lewis I., McKimm-Breschkin L., Harris A. W., Schrader J. W. Interferon-gamma induces enhanced expression of Ia and H-2 antigens on B lymphoid, macrophage, and myeloid cell lines. J Immunol. 1983 Aug;131(2):788–793. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Ziegler A., Uchańska-Ziegler B., Zeuthen J., Wernet P. HLA antigen expression at the single cell level on a K562 X B cell hybrid: an analysis with monoclonal antibodies using bacterial binding assays. Somatic Cell Genet. 1982 Nov;8(6):775–789. doi: 10.1007/BF01543018. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Clinical Pathology are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES