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Elevated expression of iNOS mRNA and protein in coeliac disease.

Daniels I, Cavill D, Murray IA, Long RG

David Evans Medical Research Centre, City Hospital, Nottingham, NG5 1PB, UK. iandaniels25@hotmail.com

BACKGROUND: The role of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the pathophysiology of coeliac disease (CD) was investigated. METHODS: We examined mRNA (reverse transcription multiplex polymerase chain reaction) and protein expression (Western blotting) of i,e and nNOS in enterocytes isolated from the duodenum of patients with untreated CD (n=22) and iron deficiency anaemia (IDA, n=22). Expression of IL1beta and TNFalpha, two pivotal "NOS-controlling" cytokines, was also studied. RESULTS: Enterocytes from both patient groups were negative for eNOS and TNF(alpha) message but positive for n and iNOS. nNOS gene expression was not statistically different between groups (158.38+/-29.11% vs. 114.95+/-24.17%, IDA vs. CD, p=0.07, Mann-Whitney U). iNOS expression was higher in patients with CD when compared to patients with IDA (96.95+/-17.82% vs. 48.76+/-8.07%, p<0.006). Low levels of IL1beta mRNA (15.66+/-3.70%) were detected in nine samples-all of these samples were isolated from patients with CD representing a positive result in 40% of coeliac patients. In support of these observations, patients with CD expressed more iNOS protein than those with IDA (159.7+/-14.9% vs. 69.8+/-20%, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that iNOS could be an important mediator in coeliac disease. Expression of this regulatory protein may be under the control of IL1beta.

Published 6 June 2005 in Clin Chim Acta, 356(1): 134-42.
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