Phospholipase A2 in serum and colonic mucosa in ulcerative colitis.

Group II phospholipase A[sub 2] is involved in the pathogenesis of various inflammatory diseases and in the host defence against bacteria. The enzyme is expressed in the epithelial cells of colonic mucosa in ulcerative colitis. In this study, we measured the concentration of group II phospholipase A[sub 2] in serum and colonic mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis of different severity and of control patients without any inflammatory disease. The activity of ulcerative colitis was assessed by endoscopy. The concentration of group II phospholipase A[sub 2] was measured with an immunoassay. The concentrations of group II phospholipase A[sub 2] in serum and colonic mucosa were significantly higher in patients with active and inactive ulcerative colitis than in controls. However, the group II phospholipase A[sub 2] levels did not separate patients with different disease activity. The concentration of group II phospholipase A[sub 2] in colonic mucosa corresponded with the mucosal inflammatory activity (higher in active colonic areas) intra-individually, but not between different patients with ulcerative colitis. Serum group II phospholipase A[sub 2] values were above the normal reference range more often than the values of 11 standard laboratory blood tests widely used for the follow-up of inflammatory activity in ulcerative colitis. These results indicate that the concentration of group II phospholipase A[sub 2] is increased in serum and colonic mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis. The clinical value of the measurement of group II phospholipase A[sub 2] in the follow-up of ulcerative colitis remains to be clarified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]