Colonic mast cells in controls and slow transit constipation patients
Authors: C A Maurer
G Sabatino
S Manenti
M Cadei
G Bassotti
R Nascimbeni
G Cathomas
V Villanacci
B Salerni
Journal: Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2011)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: mast cells; gut; visceral hypersensitivity; motor activity; constipation
Affiliations: Gastroenterology & Hepatology Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Piazza Menghini 1, San Sisto (Perugia), Italy. 

Abstract:  Background: There is recent evidence that mast cells may play important roles in the gut, especially concerning visceral hypersensitivity and motor activity. However, most data are only available for clinical conditions characterised by diarrhoea, where MC have chiefly investigated in the mucosal layer of the colon and there is almost no information concerning constipation. Aim: To investigate mast cells distribution in all colonic layers in controls and severely constipated patients. Methods: Full-thickness specimens from colons of patients undergoing surgery for slow transit constipation (n=29), compared with controls, were obtained and the number of mast cells (evaluated by specific monoclonal antibodies) counted as a whole and in single colonic segments (caecum, ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoid). Results: Compared with controls, constipated patients revealed significantly higher number of mast cells, both as overall number and in single colonic segments. The distribution of mast cells resulted fairly homogeneous in the various segment of the large bowel, in both controls and patients, and no significant difference in the percentage of degranulated cells was found between groups. Conclusions: Colonic mast cells display a homogeneous distribution within the viscus. This cell population is shown to increase in severely constipated patients, which might represent a mechanism trying to compensate for the impaired propulsive activity of these patients. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
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 Images resused to indicate Crohn disease, Slow transiton constipation and diverticular disease. ![file] ![file] ![file] , 
 To be clear, in this paper authors have cutted histology sections from patients and  control (i.e. patients with colon cancers) for mast cells immonostaining:  A specific antibody targeting MC tryptase (monoclonal mouse clone 10D11, dilution 1:200, Novocastra, UK) was used.  Patients samples were stored but histology sections were cutted specifically for this study. Incredibly, however, the same images were used in another study to illustrate another disease. , 
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 This study reports on the use of colon surgical samples obtained from from patients with constipation and  Controls i.e. colon cancer patients (non-constipated). It is also unclear where the study was carried out , whether in a single center or was a multicenter study. The only methods that refers to patients consent are the following: Ethical considerations As this was a retrospective study, no individual patient identification was involved and no studyu2010driven clinical intervention was performed; therefore a simplified IRB approval was obtained. , 
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