Monocytes in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Monocyte and Serum Lysosomal Enzyme Activity

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Abstract
The activity of a specific lysosomal marker enzyme N''-acetyl-.beta.-D-glucosaminidase was fluorimetrically determined in the monocytes and in the serum of patients with Crohn''s disease and ulcerative colitis and compared with results obtained from healthy and disease control subjects. Enzyme activities were measured in a monocyte-enriched suspension from a Ficoll-Triosil gradient and in an adherent monocyte preparation. Enzyme activity is evidently greater in monocytes and sera of patients with Crohn''s disease and ulcerative colitis than in those from control subjects (P < 0.01). Enzyme activity within monocytes correlated with disease activity (P < 0.05). Lysosomal enzymes may contribute to the pathogenesis of the mucosal inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease.