Bagger H1, Thomsen C2, Wanders A2, Sjöberg K1

Affiliates

1 Department of Clinical Sciences, Department of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden, 2 Department of Pathology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.

Abstract

Background/Aim
The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), predominantly comprised of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), is complex and caused by both genetic and environmental factors. One such potential environmental factor is vitamin D and its intranuclear receptor: the vitamin D receptor (VDR). VDR has effects on the intestine that are considered to be anti-inflammatory. VDR and its relation to IBD is poorly described. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between VDR expression as measured through immunohistochemistry (IHC) and both IBD disease severity and base disease activity.

Methods
VDR immunohistochemical expression was estimated in biopsies taken in both active and inactive IBD in 28 IBD patients (UC: 21, CD: 7), i.e. 2 biopsies per patient. The relationship between VDR expression and IBD activity/inactivity as well as IBD severity measured through histologic inflammation, colonoscopic picture and laboratory and clinical measures was analysed.

Results
VDR expression did not change in active compared to inactive disease (p = 0.83). No correlation was found between VDR expression and IBD histologic inflammation (p = 0.78), colonoscopic picture and clinical and laboratory measures including serum 25(OH) vitamin D status (p = 0.81).

Conclusion
IBD disease severity does not correlate to VDR immunohistochemical expression and VDR expression does not change in active disease compared to inactive disease. No relationship was found between vitamin D status and VDR expression. Other immunological pathways should instead be studied.