Decreased faecal exoglycosidase activities identify a subset of patients with active Crohn's disease

• Published in: Clinical science (1979) Vol. 83; no. 4; p. 409
• Main Authors: el Yamani, J, Mizon, C, Capon, C, Colombel, J F, Fournet, B, Cortot, A, Mizon, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-10-1992
• Subjects: Acetylglucosaminidase - analysis; Acetylglucosaminidase - metabolism; Adult; alpha 1-Antitrypsin - analysis; alpha 1-Antitrypsin - metabolism; beta-Galactosidase - analysis; beta-Galactosidase - metabolism; Crohn Disease - enzymology; Feces - enzymology; Female; Glycosylation; Humans; Male; Mannosidases - analysis; Mannosidases - metabolism; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0143-5221
• DOI: 10.1042/cs0830409

1. alpha 1-Proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1-antitrypsin) is excreted in a deglycosylated form (M(r) 38,000) in the faeces of healthy subjects and in patients with quiescent Crohn's disease. By contrast, in most patients with active Crohn's disease, alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor is excreted in a glycosylated form (M(r) 51,000). 2. Faecal extracts containing deglycosylated alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor are able to deglycosylate alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor by an exoglycosidic process. Conversely, we demonstrate that in faecal extracts from patients excreting glycosylated alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor, glycosidase activities, such as N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.30), alpha-mannosidase (EC 3.2.1.24) and particularly beta-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23), are strongly decreased. 3. Degradation of glycosidases by proteases could not explain the decreased glycosidase activity in these faecal extracts. 4. Our data suggest that a modification of the bacterial colonic flora (or of its metabolic activity) occurs in most patients with active Crohn's disease and could be responsible for an impaired colonic salvage of carbohydrates.