Increased colonic permeability in patients with ulcerative colitis: an in vitro study

Abstract

Background: Colonic permeability was studied in vitro in patients subjected to colectomy because of ulcerative colitis and in control patients undergoing colonic resections for cancer.

Methods: The mucosal layer from fresh colonic segments was stripped and mounted in Ussing diffusion chambers containing modified Krebs buffer solution. The mucosa to serosa passage of the marker molecules 14C-mannitol and ovalbumin was measured for 120 min.

Results: Marker passage was significantly increased in colitis patients compared with control patients, irrespective of age, sex, duration of disease, and treatment. Marker passage was further increased in patients with acute colitis. The increased colonic permeability may be explained by inflammation and the resultant loss of mucosal integrity. The increased permeability to ovalbumin implies that permeability to luminal macromolecules, such as bacterial products and other antigenic substances, might be increased in colitis.

Conclusions: The results suggest a derangement of the colonic barrier, as evidenced by an increased mucosal permeability in both chronic and acute colitis.