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Summary The CXC chemokines, monokine induced by interferon (IFN)-gamma (MIG) (CXCL9), IFN-gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10) (CXCL10) and IFN-inducible T cell alpha chemoattractant (I-TAC) (CXCL11), are known to attract CXCR3- (CXCR3A and CXCR3B) T lymphocytes. We investigated MIG, IP-10 and I-TAC mRNAs expression by semi-quantitative multiplex reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) in liver biopsies obtained from patients with a first diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis [(PBC) = 20] compared to patients with normal liver biopsy [normal controls (NCs) = 20]. Chemokine production was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serum. Measurements were repeated 6 months after ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) treatment in PBC patients. CXCR3A and CXCR3B mRNAs expression was examined in immunomagnetically sorted CD3+ peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) pre- and post-treatment by RT–PCR. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the expression of CXCR3+ PBLs of NCs and PBC patients. A marked mRNA expression of MIG and IP-10 was found in PBC patients. I-TAC mRNA was not detected. In serum of PBC patients there was a significant increase of MIG and IP-10 compared to NCs. Interestingly, there was a significant reduction of these proteins in patients' serum after UDCA treatment. I-TAC was not statistically different between groups. CXCR3A mRNA expression was found in PBLs from PBC patients as well as in NCs. CXCR3B mRNA was expressed in four of 20 (19%) NCs and 20 of 20 PBC patients. Flow cytometry revealed a significantly lower CXCR3 expression in NCs (13·5%) than in PBC (37·2%), which was reduced (28·1%, P

Anorexia, malnutrition, altered body composition and development of mesenteric obesity are well known features of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Recent data suggest that dysregulation of protein secretion by white adipose tissue is involved in these manifestations of patients with IBD. Adipocytes are recently recognized as endocrine cells that secrete a variety of bioactive substances known as adipocytokines. There is evidence that adipocytokines are involved in inflammatory and metabolic pathways in human beings. Overexpression of adipocytokines such as leptin, adiponectin and resistin in mesenteric adipose tissue of operated patients with Crohn's disease has recently been reported, suggesting that mesenteric adipocytes in IBD may act as immunoregulating cells. Therefore, it could be suggested that adipocytokines play an important role in the disease pathogenesis. Moreover, modulators of mesenteric adipose function have been suggested as potential therapeutic drugs in IBD. In this review, the importance of white adipose tissue function and adipocytokines, is discussed with respect to IBD.

Dear Sir, Muscle involvement is a rare extraintestinal manifestation of Crohn's disease (CD). It can be related either to therapy or to disease related myositis or to a coexistent autoimmune disorder affecting the muscle.1 Colonic disease is more often associated with the myopathy than is small bowel involvement alone and precedes the development of myositis in most cases. We present the case of a 35-year-old woman who was referred to our hospital due to diarrheas, low grade fever, weight loss of 9 kg and low back pain of 1 month duration. She had a medical history of unilateral orbital …

s of the 4th Congress of ECCO the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation S117 of MMP-9 and MMP-26 positive neutrophils and stromal TIMP-1 and TIMP-3. Epithelial MMP-7 expression tended to be lower in post-treatment samples and could be in an important player in the mucosal wound healing response elicited by TNF-alphainhibitors. MMP-1 and MMP-10 do not seem to be important players in this process. P269 Serum pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations in patients with Crohn’s disease and osteoporosis C. Zavos1 *, I. Koutroubakis1, M. Kamba2, M. Niniraki2, S. Kolyvaki2, I. Nerantzoulakis3, T. Voudouri1, E. Kouroumalis1. 1Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion Crete, Greece, 2Department of Immunology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion Crete, Greece, 3Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion Crete, Greece Background: A high prevalence of low bone mineralisation (LBM) is observed in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), particularly in Crohn’s disease (CD). Chronic intestinal lesions of CD patients are associated with a Th1 type cytokine profile. The expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in intestinal mucosa from CD patients is markedly enhanced. Likewise, some of these cytokines, particularly interleukin (IL)-6, were found to play a role in the pathogenesis of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Aims: To investigate the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1b, -2, -4, -6, -8, -10, interferon (IFN)-g and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-a in CD patients with LBM, particularly in the cases with osteoporosis. Patients and Methods: Sixty-three consecutive CD patients were included in the study, of whom 18 (9 women, mean age: 31.7±7.2 years) had T-score > 1.0, considered as normal; 29 (14 women, mean age: 42.7±13.0 years) had T-score between 1.0 and 2.5, indicative of osteopenia; and 16 (7 women, mean age: 53.9±19.2 years) had T-score < 2.5, suggestive of osteoporosis. All patients underwent bone densitometry by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the femoral neck and lumbar spine levels (L1-L4). The serum concentrations of the afore-mentioned pro-inflammatory cytokines were determined by multiplex technique. Results: No significant differences in mean cytokine concentrations between patients with normal T-score and those with T-score suggesting osteopenia were found. On the other hand, significant differences between patients without LBM and those with osteoporosis were noticed. As shown in Table 1, IL-2, -6, -8, and -10 were found to be significantly elevated in CD patients with osteoporosis compared to those without LBM. Conversely, IFN-g, TNF-a, IL-1b, and IL-4 serum levels were similar in the 2 study groups. Patients with osteoporosis had similar CDAI and CRP levels to those without LBM.