Interleukin 23 P 19 Expression in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis and Its Relation to Disease Severity

Background and study aims: The purpose of this study is to determine whether mucosal expression of IL 23 p 19 has role in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis and its relation to disease severity. Materials and methods:This study was carried out on 50 patients with ulcerative colitis and 10 normal individuals as control.They were divided into: Group I: 27 patients with mild to moderate disease.Group II: 23 patients with severe disease.Group III: 10 normal individuals.All patients and control were subjected to histopathological study, IL-23p19 immunohistochemical staining, IL-23R expression by flow cytometry and serum IL-23 by ELISA.Results: There is significant increased in IL-23p19 gene and IL-23R in ulcerative colitis patients compared with control.Significant positive correlation was detected between increased expression of IL-23 p19 gene, IL-23R, high serum IL-23 and severity of the disease.Conclusions: increased expression of IL-23 p19 is associated with ulcerative colitis and may indicate a role in its pathogenesis and that targeted therapy directed against IL-23 p19 may be effective in the treatment.Also increased expression of IL-23p19 gene and IL-23R with high serum IL-23 correlate positively with disease severity.