Eleonora Scaioli1, Roberta Biondi2, Elisa Liverani1, Alessandro Sartini1, Antonella Troiano1, Lorenzo Fuccio1, Rosangela Muratori1, Giulia Lombardi2, Delia Onorini2, Paola Dal Monte2, Manuela Donati2, Andrea Belluzzi3. 1. Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy. 2. Microbiology Unit, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, 40138, Bologna, Italy. 3. Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy. andrea.belluzzi@aosp.bo.it.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Simkania negevensis is an obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium (family Simkaniaceae, order Chlamydiales) that has been isolated from domestic and mains water supplies, is able to infect human macrophages, and can induce an inflammatory response in the host. METHODS: From June to December 2016, in a single-center observational study, colonic Crohn's disease patients and controls (subjects undergoing screening for colorectal cancer) underwent blood tests to identify serum-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) to S. negevensis and a colonoscopy with biopsies for detection of S. negevensis DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Forty-three Crohn's disease patients and 18 controls were enrolled. Crohn's disease patients had higher prevalence of IgA antibodies to S. negevensis compared with controls (20.9% versus 0%, p = 0.04). Simkaniaceae negevensis DNA was detected in 34.9% and 5.6% of intestinal biopsies in Crohn's disease patients and controls, respectively (p = 0.02). All Crohn's disease patients with PCR-positive biopsies for S. negevensis were IgG seropositive, with specific IgA in 60% of them (p < 0.001). Immunosuppressive therapies, extraintestinal manifestations, or disease activity did not influence the presence of S. negevensis in the Crohn's disease population. CONCLUSIONS: We identified S. negevensis in Crohn's disease patients by demonstrating the presence of S. negevensis mucosal DNA and seropositivity to the bacterium. These results could support the presence of an acute or persistent S. negevensis infection and suggest a possible role in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease.
BACKGROUND:Simkania negevensis is an obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium (family Simkaniaceae, order Chlamydiales) that has been isolated from domestic and mains water supplies, is able to infect human macrophages, and can induce an inflammatory response in the host. METHODS: From June to December 2016, in a single-center observational study, colonic Crohn's diseasepatients and controls (subjects undergoing screening for colorectal cancer) underwent blood tests to identify serum-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) to S. negevensis and a colonoscopy with biopsies for detection of S. negevensis DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Forty-three Crohn's diseasepatients and 18 controls were enrolled. Crohn's diseasepatients had higher prevalence of IgA antibodies to S. negevensis compared with controls (20.9% versus 0%, p = 0.04). Simkaniaceae negevensis DNA was detected in 34.9% and 5.6% of intestinal biopsies in Crohn's diseasepatients and controls, respectively (p = 0.02). All Crohn's diseasepatients with PCR-positive biopsies for S. negevensis were IgG seropositive, with specific IgA in 60% of them (p < 0.001). Immunosuppressive therapies, extraintestinal manifestations, or disease activity did not influence the presence of S. negevensis in the Crohn's disease population. CONCLUSIONS: We identified S. negevensis in Crohn's diseasepatients by demonstrating the presence of S. negevensis mucosal DNA and seropositivity to the bacterium. These results could support the presence of an acute or persistent S. negevensis infection and suggest a possible role in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease.
Authors: Bret T Petersen; Jennifer Chennat; Jonathan Cohen; Peter B Cotton; David A Greenwald; Thomas E Kowalski; Mary L Krinsky; Walter G Park; Irving M Pike; Joseph Romagnuolo; William A Rutala Journal: Gastrointest Endosc Date: 2011-06 Impact factor: 9.427