Lymphocyte Subpopulations in the Peripheral Blood, Mesenteric Lymphoid Nodes and Colon in Experimental Chronic Ulcerative Colitis

In experimental chronic ulcerative colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium salt the morphological changes in mesenteric lymph nodes and the composition of lymphocyte subpopulations measured by flow cytometry were studied. In chronic ulcerative colitis the reactive changes in the mesenteric lymph nodes are characterized by follicular hyperplasia and sinus reaction. In chronic ulcerative colitis the amount of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells was increased in the peripheral blood, colon and mesenteric lymph nodes. In the colon and mesenteric lymph nodes the amount of CD19+ B cells was increased which is typical for adaptive immunity and chronic inflammatory process. In the colon the amount of CD3+CD4+ T-helper was increased and in the mesenteric lymph nodes the amount of CD3+CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocytes was also increased.