부산대학교 도서관

Aims: Abdominal pain, discomfort and urgency are characteristic symptoms of acute inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Capsaicin, the main pungent ingredient of ‘hot’ chilli peppers, elicits the sensation of burning pain and discomfort by selectively activating sensory neurons. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there was increased expression of the cloned capsaicin receptor (VR1) in acute IBD. Methods: Macroscopically involved, histologically confirmed inflamed colon was collected at time of colectomy from patients with Crohn's disease (n = 6) or ulcerative pancolitis (n = 3). Abdominal pain was a predominant symptom in all but one patient. The specimens were studied by immuno-histochemistry and by western blotting using antibodies to VR1. Control colonic tissue was obtained from eight patients undergoing similar resections from nonobstructing carcinoma. Results: Western blotting revealed an eight-fold increase in relative optical density in the IBD group compared with the control group (P < 0.01). In normal colon, only weak submucosal labelling of VR1 fascicles was detected. However, in the IBD group, moderate to strong immunostaining was observed in numerous nerve fascicles. Conclusion: Our data demonstrates for the first time the presence of VR1 in normal human colonic tissue. In addition, we have shown that there is increased VR1 expression in colonic nerve fibres in acute IBD. Thus, the discovery of novel drugs or naturally occurring substances that can bind the VR1 receptor may lead to new therapies for pain and dysmotility that is seen in acute IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]