Gene expression in mononuclear cells from patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Objectives. Discovery of Nod2 as the inflammatory bowel disease 1 (IBD1) susceptibility gene has brought to light the significance of mononuclear cells in inflammatory bowel disease pathogenesis. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with untreated Crohnʹs disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) as compared to patients with other inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders and to healthy controls. Methods. We used a 2400 gene cDNA glass slide array (MICROMAX™) to examine gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from seven patients with Crohnʹs disease, five patients with ulcerative colitis, 10 patients with other inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders, and 22 age- and sex-matched controls. Results. Novel categories of genes differentially expressed in Crohnʹs disease and ulcerative colitis patients included genes regulating hematopoietic cell differentiation and leukemogenesis, lipid raft-associated signaling, the actin cytoskeleton, and vesicular trafficking. Conclusions. Altered gene expression in mononuclear cells may contribute to inflammatory bowel disease pathogenesis.