A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Colonocyte keratin 7 is expressed de novo in inflammatory bowel diseases and associated with pathological changes and drug-resistance




AuthorsPolari Lauri, Tenhami Mervi, Anttila Santeri, Helenius Terhi, Kujari Harry, Kallajoki Markku, Voutilainen Markku, Toivola Diana M.

PublisherNature Research

Publication year2022

JournalScientific Reports

Journal name in sourceScientific Reports

Volume12

Issue1

ISSN2045-2322

eISSN2045-2322

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-26603-2

Web address https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-26603-2

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/178444167


Abstract

The clinical course of IBD, characterized by relapses and remissions, is difficult to predict. Initial diagnosis can be challenging, and novel disease markers are needed. Keratin 7 (K7) is a cytoskeletal intermediate filament protein not expressed in the colonic epithelium but has been reported in IBD-associated colorectal tumors. Our aim was to analyze whether K7 is expressed in chronic colonic inflammatory diseases and evaluate its potential as a novel biomarker. K7 was analyzed in two patient cohorts using immunohistochemistry-stained colon samples and single-cell quantitative digital pathology methods. K7 was correlated to pathological changes and clinical patient characteristics. Our data shows that K7 is expressed de novo in the colonic epithelium of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease IBD patients, but not in collagenous or lymphocytic colitis. K7 mRNA expression was significantly increased in colons of IBD patients compared to controls when assessed in publicly available datasets. While K7 increased in areas with inflammatory activity, it was not expressed in specific crypt compartments and did not correlate with neutrophils or stool calprotectin. K7 was increased in areas proximal to pathological alterations and was most pronounced in drug-resistant ulcerative colitis. In conclusion, colonic epithelial K7 is neo-expressed selectively in IBD patients and could be investigated for its potential as a disease biomarker.


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Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 21:45