Comparison of cytokine and phosphoprotein profiles in idiopathic and Crohn’s disease-related perianal fistula

Figure 1 Median cytokine concentrations (log-10 scale) in the supernatants from 24-h fresh tissue cultures using a 30-plex Milliplex MAP Human Cytokine/Chemokine Magnetic Bead Panel (EMD Millipore, Billerica, MA, United States) and a MAGPIX multiplexing instrument (Luminex Corporation, Austin, TX, United States). The median IL-12p70 concentration at the internal opening was higher in the Crohn’s disease group (a). The median difference was 19.7 pg/mL (Hodges-Lehman, 99%CI: 0.2-40.4; Mann-Whitney U, P = 0.008). The IL-1RA/IL-1β concentration ratio was significantly lower in the Crohn’s disease group at the internal opening (b). The median difference was 15.0 (99%CI: 0.4-50.5, P = 0.008). There were no other statistically significant differences between the groups in the remaining 27 cytokines at the four biopsy sites. ¹Results should be interpreted cautiously as they were below the minimum detectable concentration for the assay. Id: Idiopathic; CD: Crohn’s disease; HC: Healthy controls; F: Fistula tract; G: granulation tissue; I: Internal opening; R: Rectal mucosa.