# Cytokine Networks in Ulcerative Colitis

Authors: Giulia Roda; Margherita Marocchi; Alessandro Sartini; Enrico Roda
Journal: Ulcers
 (2011)

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## Abstract

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a relapsing inflammatory bowel disease whose pathogenesis has yet to be defined completely. A genetic predisposition is needed to develop the colitis, but environmental factors are necessary to trigger an exaggerated and aberrant immune response, which stands at the basis of the mucosal healing. Cytokines, small cell-signaling protein molecules secreted by various types of cells including immune and glia cells, are the main mediators of the mucosal healing in IBD; ulcerative colitis is characterized by a Th2 atypical immune response, since, beside the classical proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α, in the pathogenesis of UC, we find a complex network in which the Th2 cytokines, IL-10 and IL-13, play a key role, but little IL-4 was found. Our aim was to review the literature to point out the state of the art in terms of cytokines because the knowledge of cytokine network in UC could lead to the discovery of  new therapeutical targets.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Ulcerative colitis (UC), a form of disease belonging to the so-called inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), is characterized by continuous inflammation of the intestinal lamina propria, starting from the rectum and potentially involving the whole colonic mucosa.The course of UC is typically unpredictable; it is a chronic disease characterized by spontaneous remittances and relapses [1].At present, its pathogenesis is still unclear, but evidence suggests that the disease occurs in genetically susceptible subjects, and it is trigged by environmental factors, which lead to an exaggerated and uncontrolled immune response [2–9].However, genetic susceptibility itself is not sufficient to explain the development of IBD; in fact, environmental triggers have been identified as agents able to disrupt or at least to affect the mucosal barrier, such as NSAIDs, antibiotics, and viral and bacterial infections [10]. Actually, disease expression seems to be the consequence of a dysregulated immune response to both bacteria and bacterial products in a susceptible host; in fact, while inflammatory response against luminal antigens is suppressed in healthy individuals, a destructive immune response is initiated in IBD patients.In this context, the immune response plays a key role in the initiation, augmentation, and perpetuation of the disease. In IBD, in fact, there is a loss of immune tolerance towards the luminal antigens and the commensal flora.This aberrant immune response is mediated by different cytokines, small cell-signaling protein molecules secreted by various types of cells including immune and other cells such as glia cells, which stimulate the proliferation of antigen-specific effector cells in order to activate the adaptive immune system, with consequent burst of local and systemic inflammation.Cytokines play many different roles in IBD, such as production of inflammatory mediators, nitric oxide, leukotrienes, platelet-activating factor, activation of NF-κB pathway, and inhibition of apoptosis; thus, cytokines themselves are directly responsible for mucosal injury and consequent tissue damage. However, some of them induce a disease-specific immune response in UC and CD; so, we can identify UC-associated  specific cytokine networks [11].


## 2. UC Is Associated with a Th2-Atypical Response

Ulcerative colitis shows a particular immune pathway; in the past, it was thought to be a Th2 dominant disease, but in the last years, many studies proved that UC is characterized by a Th2 atypical immune response. In fact, no IL-4 was detected in UC tissues, but both IL-13 and IFN-γ were found at high levels [12].The CD4+ lymphocytes had been firstly characterized in Th1 and Th2 cells, according to their function and to the production of  specific cytokines; recently, an additional Th subset, Th17, has been described. The Th1 cells are activated by IL-12 secreted by the antigen-presenting cells and produce classical proinflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ and TNF-α) and IL-2.Thus, the Th1-mediated immune response is mainly directed towards intracellular pathogens as it is meant to secrete factors that promote intracellular killing by macrophages (superoxide, nitric oxid) or that activate cytotoxic lymphocytes [10].The Th2 cells produce IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-13 and promote atopy through activation of mast cells and induction of IgE responses.The Th1 and Th2 subpopulations are mutually regulated; IFN-γ can in fact downregulate (drop down) the Th2-mediated responses, while IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13 inhibit the Th1-mediated responses.


## 3. Different Cytokines Are Involved in UC Pathogenesis

Beside the classical proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α, in the pathogenesis of UC we find a complex network in which the Th2 cytokines, IL-10 and IL-13, play a key role.


### 3.1. TNF-α

TNF-α is a typical proinflammatory cytokine produced by APCs and macrophages; its role in the promotion of inflammation is performed by the production of  IL-1β and IL-6, the expression of adhesion molecules, the proliferation of fibroblasts, the activation of procoagulant factors, the cytotoxicity of the acute phase response, and inhibition of  apoptosis [13, 14].Moreover, TNF-α activates neutrophils and macrophages, stimulates B cells, and increases the production of IFN-γ by T cells [15].The increased expression of TNF-α has been demonstrated by several studies in intestinal biopsies, both in CD patients and in those with UC versus healthy controls; in addition, mucosal biopsies from affected areas showed significantly higher levels than those of mucosal biopsies from macroscopically unaffected areas. These data therefore demonstrate a direct correlation between TNF-α and inflammation.Finally, serum levels of TNF-α correlate with clinical and laboratory indices of disease activity such as the erythrosedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and disease activity index (DAI) [16].


### 3.2. IL-4 and TGF-β

IL-4 and TGFβ are anti-inflammatory cytokines and their role in IBD is yet to be characterized.IL-4 is a stimulatory molecule for both B and T cells, and it is produced mainly by activated lymphocytes. Its main role stands in the inhibition of the formation of colonies of macrophages, of  the production of H2O2 by monocytes, and of the release of mediators such as IL-1β and TNF-α.The levels of IL-4 and IL-4 mRNA were found reduced in IBD, demonstrating the loss of balance between anti and proinflammatory cytokines in favor of the proinflammatory ones [17].The role of IL-4 in the reduction of inflammation was also demonstrated by Griga et al., whose studies showed that the administration of IL-4 causes a significant reduction of  VEGF produced by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with active CD and UC, with a plain anti-inflammatory effect [18].TGF-β is an inhibitory cytokine, a key regulator in the maintenance of immune and inflammatory responses.Evidence suggests that TGF-β acts together with growth factors in protecting host tissue from luminal changes and can help the mucosal healing in IBD [19, 20].However, CD and UC show distinct patterns of production of TGF-β; patients with UC show an increased synthesis of TGF-β1 by mononuclear cells of the lamina propria, compared to CD patients and healthy controls, emphasizing that although TGF-β acts as an anti-inflammatory molecule in the systemic immune system, locally it shows proinflammatory properties [21].


### 3.3. IL-6

IL-6 is a typical proinflammatory cytokine whose production is induced during the acute-phase response; it is secreted by a large number of cells, and its main sources in the gut are the macrophages [22].IL-6 exerts most of its proinflammatory effects by binding to its soluble receptor (sIL-6R), and this binding stimulates only cells that express gp130 but not IL-6R; this  process is called transsignalling, and it occurs through the STAT3 molecule (signal transducer and activator of transcription-3).Increased IL-6 levels were found in both biopsy samples and sera of UC and CD patients [23].


### 3.4. IL-10

IL-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine produced by T cells, B cells, and monocytes;  in presence of an antigenic stimulus, IL-10 inhibits the production of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α [24] by diminishing the antigen-presenting capacity of monocytes via downregulation of MHCII [25].The protective role played by IL-10 within the mucosal immune system is confirmed by data showing that  inactivation of the gene for IL-10 in mice causes a chronic ileocolitis with increased production of IL-12 and IFN-γ [26, 27].The analysis of cytokine mRNA levels by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in T lymphocytes of UC patients and healthy controls showed a significant increase of IL-10 in UC, while it was undetectable in healthy colonic lamina propria [28, 29].A study by Melgar et al. showed a highly significant increase of IL-10 mRNA levels in T lymphocytes and an increased frequency of IL-10-positive cells in UC; IL-10 mRNA levels were also elevated in T lymphocytes of the noninflamed ileum and correlated with disease activity at both locations.A recent study by Szkaradkiewicz et al. compared the levels of circulating inflammatory cytokines and of IL-10 of IBD patients to the ones of healthy controls, represented by both disease-free patients and patients affected by colorectal cancer (CRC) [30].UC patients showed high levels of proinflammatory cytokines, but the concentration of IL-10 (4,40 ± 1,55) was significant as well, compared to healthy subjects (1,35 ± 0,96). Between CD and UC, differences were found only in TNF-α (higher in CD group) and IL-10 (higher in UC group) values. Moreover, the UC group showed lower levels of TNF-α and lower levels of IL-10 compared to patients affected by colorectal cancer, while cytokine concentrations found in CD group did not show any significant difference. These data confirm that both IBD and colorectal cancer induce an increase in inflammatory cytokines production; IL-10 concentration does not show any variation in CD and CRC group compared to healthy controls, while it is increased in UC group. However, this IL-10 concentration increase is not enough to inhibit properly the secretory activity of monocytes and macrophages.


### 3.5. IL-13

Lamina propria lymphocytes of  UC patients show increased levels of IL-5 and IL-13, restricted to the inflamed areas; these data confirm the crucial role of the Th2 immune response in the pathogenesis of UC.Recently, it was shown that IL-13 is produced by Cd-1 reactive natural killer T cells and that IL-13 acts on the epithelial cells and make them disfunctional.IL-13 is a typical Th2 cytokine which is responsible for epithelial barrier damage, speed of mucosal repair, and alteration of the tight junctions, with a consequent impairment of the mucosal permeability.Particularly, Heller et al. performed a series of studies in order to determine exactly the effects of IL-13 in UC. They showed that IL-13 does not induce cell necrosis, but it contributes to cell apoptosis, with a significant increase of  the conductance in the apoptotic areas [31].Moreover, the impairment of cell permeability was investigated; the addition of IL-13 to cell cultures increases the flux of ions and of large molecules such as mannitol and lactulose. The composition of tight junctions was altered as well; the WB analysis performed on colonic biopsy specimens from UC patients, and controls  showed a 10-fold increase in claudin-2, while the expression of  occludin, claudin-1, and claudin-4 was lower than in controls.IL-13 also affects the speed of mucosal repair; under physiological conditions, gaps in the mucosal layer can be closed by neighboring cells, and the addition of IL-13 to cells colures where mucosal lesions were artificially induced reduces the speed of this restitution of  a 30%.


## 3.1. TNF-α

TNF-α is a typical proinflammatory cytokine produced by APCs and macrophages; its role in the promotion of inflammation is performed by the production of  IL-1β and IL-6, the expression of adhesion molecules, the proliferation of fibroblasts, the activation of procoagulant factors, the cytotoxicity of the acute phase response, and inhibition of  apoptosis [13, 14].Moreover, TNF-α activates neutrophils and macrophages, stimulates B cells, and increases the production of IFN-γ by T cells [15].The increased expression of TNF-α has been demonstrated by several studies in intestinal biopsies, both in CD patients and in those with UC versus healthy controls; in addition, mucosal biopsies from affected areas showed significantly higher levels than those of mucosal biopsies from macroscopically unaffected areas. These data therefore demonstrate a direct correlation between TNF-α and inflammation.Finally, serum levels of TNF-α correlate with clinical and laboratory indices of disease activity such as the erythrosedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and disease activity index (DAI) [16].


## 3.2. IL-4 and TGF-β

IL-4 and TGFβ are anti-inflammatory cytokines and their role in IBD is yet to be characterized.IL-4 is a stimulatory molecule for both B and T cells, and it is produced mainly by activated lymphocytes. Its main role stands in the inhibition of the formation of colonies of macrophages, of  the production of H2O2 by monocytes, and of the release of mediators such as IL-1β and TNF-α.The levels of IL-4 and IL-4 mRNA were found reduced in IBD, demonstrating the loss of balance between anti and proinflammatory cytokines in favor of the proinflammatory ones [17].The role of IL-4 in the reduction of inflammation was also demonstrated by Griga et al., whose studies showed that the administration of IL-4 causes a significant reduction of  VEGF produced by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with active CD and UC, with a plain anti-inflammatory effect [18].TGF-β is an inhibitory cytokine, a key regulator in the maintenance of immune and inflammatory responses.Evidence suggests that TGF-β acts together with growth factors in protecting host tissue from luminal changes and can help the mucosal healing in IBD [19, 20].However, CD and UC show distinct patterns of production of TGF-β; patients with UC show an increased synthesis of TGF-β1 by mononuclear cells of the lamina propria, compared to CD patients and healthy controls, emphasizing that although TGF-β acts as an anti-inflammatory molecule in the systemic immune system, locally it shows proinflammatory properties [21].


## 3.3. IL-6

IL-6 is a typical proinflammatory cytokine whose production is induced during the acute-phase response; it is secreted by a large number of cells, and its main sources in the gut are the macrophages [22].IL-6 exerts most of its proinflammatory effects by binding to its soluble receptor (sIL-6R), and this binding stimulates only cells that express gp130 but not IL-6R; this  process is called transsignalling, and it occurs through the STAT3 molecule (signal transducer and activator of transcription-3).Increased IL-6 levels were found in both biopsy samples and sera of UC and CD patients [23].


## 3.4. IL-10

IL-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine produced by T cells, B cells, and monocytes;  in presence of an antigenic stimulus, IL-10 inhibits the production of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α [24] by diminishing the antigen-presenting capacity of monocytes via downregulation of MHCII [25].The protective role played by IL-10 within the mucosal immune system is confirmed by data showing that  inactivation of the gene for IL-10 in mice causes a chronic ileocolitis with increased production of IL-12 and IFN-γ [26, 27].The analysis of cytokine mRNA levels by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in T lymphocytes of UC patients and healthy controls showed a significant increase of IL-10 in UC, while it was undetectable in healthy colonic lamina propria [28, 29].A study by Melgar et al. showed a highly significant increase of IL-10 mRNA levels in T lymphocytes and an increased frequency of IL-10-positive cells in UC; IL-10 mRNA levels were also elevated in T lymphocytes of the noninflamed ileum and correlated with disease activity at both locations.A recent study by Szkaradkiewicz et al. compared the levels of circulating inflammatory cytokines and of IL-10 of IBD patients to the ones of healthy controls, represented by both disease-free patients and patients affected by colorectal cancer (CRC) [30].UC patients showed high levels of proinflammatory cytokines, but the concentration of IL-10 (4,40 ± 1,55) was significant as well, compared to healthy subjects (1,35 ± 0,96). Between CD and UC, differences were found only in TNF-α (higher in CD group) and IL-10 (higher in UC group) values. Moreover, the UC group showed lower levels of TNF-α and lower levels of IL-10 compared to patients affected by colorectal cancer, while cytokine concentrations found in CD group did not show any significant difference. These data confirm that both IBD and colorectal cancer induce an increase in inflammatory cytokines production; IL-10 concentration does not show any variation in CD and CRC group compared to healthy controls, while it is increased in UC group. However, this IL-10 concentration increase is not enough to inhibit properly the secretory activity of monocytes and macrophages.


## 3.5. IL-13

Lamina propria lymphocytes of  UC patients show increased levels of IL-5 and IL-13, restricted to the inflamed areas; these data confirm the crucial role of the Th2 immune response in the pathogenesis of UC.Recently, it was shown that IL-13 is produced by Cd-1 reactive natural killer T cells and that IL-13 acts on the epithelial cells and make them disfunctional.IL-13 is a typical Th2 cytokine which is responsible for epithelial barrier damage, speed of mucosal repair, and alteration of the tight junctions, with a consequent impairment of the mucosal permeability.Particularly, Heller et al. performed a series of studies in order to determine exactly the effects of IL-13 in UC. They showed that IL-13 does not induce cell necrosis, but it contributes to cell apoptosis, with a significant increase of  the conductance in the apoptotic areas [31].Moreover, the impairment of cell permeability was investigated; the addition of IL-13 to cell cultures increases the flux of ions and of large molecules such as mannitol and lactulose. The composition of tight junctions was altered as well; the WB analysis performed on colonic biopsy specimens from UC patients, and controls  showed a 10-fold increase in claudin-2, while the expression of  occludin, claudin-1, and claudin-4 was lower than in controls.IL-13 also affects the speed of mucosal repair; under physiological conditions, gaps in the mucosal layer can be closed by neighboring cells, and the addition of IL-13 to cells colures where mucosal lesions were artificially induced reduces the speed of this restitution of  a 30%.


## 4. Cytokine Networks: A Potential Therapeutical Target

Given the role of cytokines in the pathogenesis and in the perpetuation of inflammatory bowel diseases, the use of cytokines and anticytokines shows great promise in the treatment of this kind of disease.The biological treatment with Infliximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody against TNF-α, was firstly proposed for the treatment of CD, but it was shown to be effective in patients with steroid-refractory UC as well, where it was expected to be not functional as the mucosal levels of TNF-α are not increased in UC [32, 33].Infliximab efficacy in UC seems to be due to an apoptotic effect on T cells and on APCs which secrete cytokines. Since lately the role of IL-13 in the pathogenesis of UC was emphasized, it is now thought that the effectiveness of anti- TNF-α is related to its apoptotic effect on cells which express TNF-α on their surface, and these cells could be the ones that secrete proinflammatory cytokines responsible for the mucosal damage, such as IL-13.Moreover, the humanized, non-Fc-binding immunoglobulin G2 anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody Visilizumab is now under evaluation as a treatment for UC steroid-refractory patients [1].Yamamoto et al. proposed the use of a monoclonal antibody against IL-6R in an experimental induced colitis murine model, and their data showed a significant dicrease in IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-1β mRNA. The remittance of this induced colitis seems to be due to the inhibition of the circulating leucocytes and to the increase of the T-cells apoptotic rate, both induced by the antibody itself [34].Moreover, the IL-6/STAT3 signalling pathway, required for the activation of the mucosal T cells, might be one of the forthcoming therapeutical targets [35].


## 5. Conclusion

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by continuous inflammation of the intestinal lamina propria, starting from the rectum and potentially involving the whole colonic mucosa. Its pathogenesis involves many different factors, such as genetical susceptibility, environmental triggers, and immune response, which are all necessary, but none of them is sufficient itself to induce the disease.Cytokines surely play a key role in the initiation, augmentation, and perpetuation of the disease, since they are directly responsible for the mucosal injury.We reviewed the state of art concerning the main cytokine profiles involved in UC pathogenesys; UC is characterized by a Th2 atypical immune response, with high levels of  IL-6, IL-10, and IL-13, beside the classical proinflammatory cytokines.The understanding of these cytokine networks may lead to important developments both in the diagnostical and therapeutical phase. Firstly, a deeper knowledge of these networks is required to better understand the pathogenesis of UC; then, from a diagnostical point of view, the analysis of cytokine expression profiles could let the identification of new markers which could work as predictors of disease onset, disease exacerbation, or disease phenotype.Finally, a more specific evaluation of cytokines involved in UC tissue damage could  lead to the development of targeted and tailored therapies.


## Conflict of Interests

The authors declare no conflict of interests.



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