Altered molecular pattern of mucosal healing in Crohn’s disease fibrotic stenosis

Figure 1 Levels of the three investigated molecules. A: Specimens with complicated Crohn’s disease and controls. The levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α do not show a significant difference from that observed in normal tissue (1.54 ± 1.19; P > 0.05). High levels of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) are observed in Crohn’s disease (11.76 ± 4.65; P < 0.001), while syndecan 1 shows a moderate increase (5.53 ± 2.18; P < 0.005). Analysis of variance plus Student-Neumann-Keuls showed: bFGF > syndecan 1; B: The same parameters on the bases of their site (small and large bowel). No significant difference is observed in relation to the site of resection.

Figure 2 Immunohistochemical staining of syndecan 1 in the lamina propria in controls (A) and Crohn’s disease (B) stenotic complication. In normal tissue staining is confined to basolateral area of the crypts (arrow). In Crohn’s disease, positive stromal cells and apical epithelium are observed stained brown (diaminobenzidine). Negative cells are counterstained blue (haematoxylin) (× 400).

Figure 3 Immunohistochemical staining of basic fibroblast growth factor in the lamina propria (A) and the muscular layer (B). A: Positive cells are stained red (aminoethylcarbazole) and negative ones blue (haematoxylin). A massive staining of stromal cells is observed, but also epithelium is involved by molecule expression (× 100); B: Positive cells are observed in the muscle and endothelium (× 100).