Immunocytochemical Reactions of Serum from Ulcerative Colitis Patients.

Abstract

A study of sera from patients with ulcerative colitis, regional ileitis, other diseases and normal patients, by the indirect fluorescent antibody method revealed binding of a gamma globulin factor to normal adult colonic glands for 3 of 25 patients with ulcerative colitis. Similar reactions were encountered with sections of sterile fetal colon, patients'' own colon and hepatic bile ductules. Increased gamma globulin was demonstrated in the intestinal tract of patients with active regional ileitis and ulcerative colitis. Demonstration of antibodies and definition of their respective antigens form the basis for further studies of immunologic processes in ulcerative colitis.