Expression of interleukin (IL)‐19 and IL‐24 in inflammatory bowel disease patients: a cross‐sectional study

Summary Interleukin (IL)‐19 and IL‐24 belong to the IL‐20 subfamily, and are involved in host defence against bacteria and fungi, tissue remodelling and wound healing. Nevertheless, no previous studies have explored their expression in Mexican mestizo patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of the study was to characterize and to enumerate peripheral and tissue IL‐19‐ and IL‐24‐producing cells, as well as gene expression in patients with IBD with regard to its clinical activity. We studied a total of 77 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), 36 Crohn's disease (CD) and 33 patients as control group (without endoscopic evidence of intestinal inflammation). Gene expression was measured by real‐time–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR). Protein expression was detected in biopsies by immunohistochemistry and in freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells by flow cytometry. IL‐19 and IL‐24 gene expression was elevated significantly in patients with active IBD versus the inactive disease and non‐inflammatory control groups (P