Inflammation and tissue remodeling contribute to fibrogenesis in stricturing Crohn's disease: image processing and analysis study

Mustafa Erdem Arslan, Rupinder Brar, Lianna Goetz, Dipti Karamchandani, Michael W. Mikula, Kyle Hodge, Hua Li, Sangtae Ahn, Hwajeong Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: Inflammation and structural remodeling may contribute to fibrogenesis in Crohn's disease (CD). We quantified the immunoexpression of calretinin, CD34, and calprotectin as a surrogate for mucosal innervation, telocytes (interstitial cells playing a role in networking), and inflammation, respectively, and correlated them with bowel alterations in stricturing CD. Methods: Primary resection specimens for ileal CD (n=44, 31 stricturing CD, 13 inflammatory CD) were identified. Left-sided ulcerative colitis and trauma cases were used as controls. Proximal and distal margin and middle (diseased) sections were stained for calretinin, CD34, and calprotectin. Microscopic images were captured from the mucosa (calretinin), submucosa (calprotectin), and myenteric plexus (CD34), and the immunostaining was quantified using image processing and analysis. Bowel thickness at the corresponding sections were measured and correlated with the amount of immunoexpression. Results: A total of 2, 037 images were analyzed. In stricturing CD, submucosal alteration/thickening at the stricture site correlated with calprotectin staining and inversely correlated with calretinin staining at the proximal margin. Muscularis propria alteration/thickening at the stricture site correlated with mucosal calretinin staining at the proximal margin. Submucosal alteration/thickening at the proximal margin correlated with calretinin and CD34 staining at the proximal margin and inversely correlated with CD34 staining at the stricture site. Calretinin immunostaining at the distal margin was significantly higher in stricturing CD than the controls. Conclusions: Inflammation and tissue remodeling appear to contribute to fibrogenesis in stricturing CD. Increased mucosal calretinin immunostaining distal to the diseased segment could be helpful in diagnosing CD in the right clinical context.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)239-248
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Pathology and Translational Medicine
Volume56
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2022

Keywords

  • Calprotectin
  • Calretinin
  • Crohn's disease
  • Fibrosis
  • Stricture
  • Telocyte

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine
  • Histology

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