Elevated cell-associated levels of interleukin 1 beta and interleukin 6 in inflamed mucosa of inflammatory bowel disease

The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of the monocyte-derived cytokines interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease. Endoscopic biopsies of normal and inflamed intestinal mucosa were obtained from patients with ulcerative colitis (n = 11) and with Crohn's disease (n = 10). Intestinal mucosal cells were isolated by collagenase digestion. Cell viability, morphology and CD14 expression were determined. To measure cell-associated cytokine levels, cells were lysed and analysed for IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha in specific radioimmunoassays and for IL-6 using a biological assay. Compared with mucosal cells from control patients without inflammatory bowel disease the inflamed intestine in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease displayed markedly enhanced levels of IL-I beta (median 245pg 10(-6) cells, range 30-1275) and IL-6 (median 22 U 10(-6) cells, range 1-298). Non-inflamed mucosa in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease did not shown elevated levels of lL-1 beta (median 50pg 10(-6) cells, range 33-90) or IL-6 (mean below detection limit of assay, i.e. 1 U 10(-6) cells). In contrast, no clear cut difference between inflamed and non-inflamed mucosa could be detected for TNF-alpha. High tissue levels of IL-6 were associated with a high endoscopic grade of local inflammation. These results suggest that the monocyte-derived cytokines IL-1 beta and IL-6 are mediators of inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease.