Review for 10.1186/s12876-015-0402-3 (2015)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: WNT5A Transforms Intestinal CD8αα+ IELs into an Unconventional Phenotype with Pro -
inflammatory Features  
 
Version: 0 Date: 28 Aug 2015  
 
Reviewer: Eleonora  Patsenker  
 
Reviewer ’s report:  
 
The aim of the study was to inve stigate the role of WNT signaling pathway in the regulation of 
immune balance in the intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs). The authors showed that the 
non-canonical WNT elements are elevated in colitis IELs and WNT5a turned them into a pro -
inflamm atory phenotype, inducing IFN -y production, whilst decreasing TGFb and IL -10. In 
ulcerative colitis patients, inflamed colon tissues possessed higher FZD7 promoter methylation 
ratio indicating an impaired canonical WNT pathway.  
 
 
The work is nicely performed  and clearly written . Only minor issue to clarify:  
 
1. Figure 1. The figure and the explanation of the figure is a bit confusing. Please, make 
sure the description corresponds to what is shown. Could the untreated control values 
(D0) be provided? As it's  not clear what do the authors mean when claiming the drop of 
FZD1, FZD7, Wnt3A in a time dependent manner - is it compared to untreated controls, 
or in IEL vs colon? As none of th is is clearly seen on Figure 1.  
 
2. Please, double check for the correct app earance of abbreviations in the text (abstract, line 
5 - intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs); etc throughout the text); minor 
grammatical and stylistic errors, symbols use (CD8aa - aa), wnt - WNT  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are  required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality o f language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received  reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
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2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gai n or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salar y from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answe r no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
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