Hapten-induced colitis is associated with colonic patch hypertrophy and T helper cell 2-type responses

Abstract

To investigate the potential involvement of T helper (Th)2-type responses in murine models of intestinal inflammation, we used trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-hapten to induce inflammatory bowel disease in situations where Th1-type responses with interferon (IFN)-γ synthesis are either diminished or do not occur. Intracolonic administration of TNBS to either normal (IFN-γ(+/+)) or Th1-deficient IFN-γ knockout (IFN- γ(-/-)) BALB/c mice resulted in significant colitis. In IFN-γ(-/-) mice, crypt inflammation was more severe than in IFN-γ(+/+) mice and was accompanied by hypertrophy of colonic patches with a lymphoepithelium containing M cells and distinct B and T cell zones resembling Peyer's patches. Hapten-specific, colonic patch T cells from both mouse groups exhibited a Th2 phenotype with interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 production. TNBS colitis in normal mice treated with anti-IL-4 antibodies or in IL-4(-/-) mice was less severe than in either IFN-γ(+/+) or IFN-γ(-/-) mice. Our findings now show that the Th2-type responses in TN-BS colitis are associated with colonic patch enlargement and inflammation of the mucosal layer and may represent a model for ulcerative colitis.