Inflammation in irritable bowel syndrome: Myth or new treatment target?

Figure 1 Literature findings on the relationship between irritable bowel syndrome and inflammation (n = 305).

Figure 2 Immunohistochemistry for tryptase showing increases in the number of mast cells in the colonic mucosa in inflammatory bowel disease. A: Irritable bowel syndrome patient; B: Control (× 40 magnification). Courtesy of Giancarlo Pompei, personal data.

Figure 3 Immunohistochemistry for CD3 showing increase in the number of intraepithelial T-lymphocytes in the large bowel in inflammatory bowel disease. A: Irritable bowel syndrome patient; B: Normal distribution of T-lymphocytes, which are mainly distributed within the lamina propria of the large bowel of a control patient (× 20 magnification). Courtesy of Giancarlo Pompei, personal data.

Figure 4 Immunohistochemical staining for CD20. An equivalent distribution of B lymphocytes in the lamina propria was seen in the large intestine. A: Patient with irritable bowel syndrome; B: Control patient (× 20 magnification). Courtesy of Giancarlo Pompei, personal data.

Figure 5 Immunohistochemistry for chromogranin A showing increased expression in nerve terminals at the level of the basal membrane in the large intestine in inflammatory bowel disease. A: Irritable bowel syndrome patient; B: Control patient (× 40 magnification). Courtesy of Giancarlo Pompei, personal data.