Intestinal Inflammation Decreased By Il-22 Gene

Main Category: GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology
Also Included In: Crohn's;  Biology / Biochemistry;  Genetics
Article Date: 03 Jan 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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There are two major types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Conflicting reports have indicated that the soluble factor IL-22 can have both IBD promoting and IBD controlling effects. But now, Atsushi Mizoguchi and colleagues at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, have established that IL-22 ameliorates disease in a mouse model of UC.

Expression of IL-22 is much higher in the intestines of individuals with CD than UC. To investigate the role of IL-22 in IBD, the authors used a new microinjection-based strategy to deliver the gene that makes IL-22 to the walls of the intestine of mice who suffer from an intestinal disease that models UC. Delivery of the Il-22 gene ameliorated local intestinal inflammation through enhanced mucus production. Consistent with this, when the same strategy was used to deliver a gene that makes a protein that neutralizes IL-22, IL-22-binding protein, to the walls of the intestines of normal mice it enhanced chemical-induced intestinal inflammation. The authors therefore suggest that individuals with UC might benefit from local delivery of the IL-22 gene to their intestines.

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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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TITLE: IL-22 ameliorates intestinal inflammation in a mouse model of ulcerative colitis

AUTHOR CONTACT:
Atsushi Mizoguchi
Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Source: Karen Honey
Journal of Clinical Investigation