Expression of chemokine receptors in normal and inflamed human intestine, tonsil, and liver--an immunohistochemical analysis with new monoclonal antibodies from the 8th international workshop and conference on human leucocyte differentiation antigens.

Chemokines are important mediators involved in the recruitment of leucocytes to lymphoid tissues and to sites of inflammation. To identify suitable monoclonal antibodies for immunohistochemistry, we tested a panel of new reagents provided by the cytokine/chemokine receptor section of the 8th HLDA workshop on cryostat sections of normal human gut, tonsil, and liver. In addition, inflamed intestinal tissues from individuals with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis were analysed. Our results reveal an upregulated expression of chemokine receptors like CCR6, CCR7, CCR9, CXCR1, and CXCR3 in inflamed gut. Enhanced expression of such molecules likely contributes to the maintenance of inflammation in chronic inflammatory bowel disease.