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. 1984 May;25(5):455–459. doi: 10.1136/gut.25.5.455

Organelle pathology in ulcerative and Crohn's colitis with special reference to the lysosomal alterations.

C O'Morain, P Smethurst, A J Levi, T J Peters
PMCID: PMC1432458  PMID: 6714788

Abstract

Rectal biopsy specimens from control subjects, patients with either active or quiescent ulcerative colitis, and patients with Crohn's colitis were examined histologically and assayed for marker enzymes associated with tissue organelles. They were catalase (peroxisome); neutral alpha-glucosidase (endoplasmic reticulum); alkaline phosphatase (plasma membrane); malate dehydrogenase (mitochondria); lactate dehydrogenase (cytosol). There was no significant change in these enzyme activities in patient samples compared with controls. Activities of three acid hydrolases (lysosomal enzymes), beta-glucuronidase, acid phosphatase, and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, were also assayed in the biopsy samples. Decreased activities of all three enzymes were noted in ulcerative colitis, particularly in active disease. Normal values were obtained in Crohn's colitis. Measurement of lysosomal integrity by assays of latent N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase activity revealed similar results in control and colitic subjects. It is suggested that the lysosomal changes reflect a specific tissue release of enzyme and may be implicated in the pathogenesis of the tissue damage.

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Selected References

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

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