Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase subunit P22phox gene expression in ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory diseases of the colon. The instability emerged in colon mucosa in favor of the oxidative stress reveals inflammation and mucosa damage. NADPH oxidase system is the leading pathway responsible from the production of free oxygen radicals in phagocytes. P22phox on the other hand is a member of this system and responsible from the production of free oxygen radicals. We have hypothesized that increased oxidative stress and chronic inflammation in UC is related with P22phox gene expression and there may be a pathogenetic mechanism. We herein attempt to determine quantitative P22phox gene expression through biopsies taken from inflamed colon mucosa of the patients diagnosed with UC in the colonoscopy and compare them with normal colon of patients and healthy controls.We have included voluntary subjects diagnosed with UC in the colonoscopy process who are between 16 and 65 years old. The P22phox gene expression analyzed with the Real Time PCR method.The P22phox gene expression was similar in inflamed and normal mucosa biopsy samples of the patients (p>0.05). When we have compared patients with healthy controls, there was not a significant difference of the p22phox gene expression in both inflammatory and normal colon mucosa biopsies. Also there was not significant difference concerning the p22phox gene expression between the treated and untreated groups (p:0.32, p:0.25). There was not a significant correlation between the indices of severity and p22phox expression in patients.Consequently, p22phox expression is not associated with chronic inflammation in patients with UC. Oxidative stress may be related with several mechanisms as well as the p22phox expression or this expression is affected by unknown factors.Key words: Ulcerative colitis, NADPH oxidase, p22phox expression