Reports show that the T cells of CD mucosa exhibit resistance to a variety of signals that induce apoptosis, including the differential expression of proteins from the Bcl-2 family and differences in the ratio between pro and antiapoptotic proteins, suggesting that SB 332235 apoptosis may be one of the mechanisms involved in CD pathophysiology. Furthermore, defective apoptosis in immune cells, such as macrophages and neutrophils, has been reported. Whether the thickening of MAT acts as a barrier to the inflammatory process, or is a secondary factor that maintains the inflammatory process, resulting in the transmural aspect of CD, is unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the potential contribution of apoptosis in accumulation of MAT, as well as the relationship between altered apoptosis in MAT and in intestinal tissue involved by CD. To do this, we detected apoptotic DNA strand breaks using the TUNEL assay, in addition to analyzing the transcriptional and protein expressions of selected molecules, to determine the pathways potentially involved in altered apoptosis. Although phenotypic variation occurs in CD patients, some common macroscopic aspects can be SIB 1553A hydrochloride observed, especially with regard to the thickening of the MAT close to the affected intestinal area. This feature is not seen in patients with UC who develop a superficial inflammatory process in the intestinal wall that is usually restricted to the intestinal mucosa and submucosa layers. The adipose tissue is considered an important endocrine organ, responsible for the production and release of hormones and cytokines. It is known that mesenteric adipocytes of normal individuals are able to synthesize several pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and express Toll-Like Receptor 4 for the recognition of bacterial antigens. These studies revealed abnormalities in the MAT of CD patients, including the infiltration of macrophages and T cells, perivascular inflammation, fibrosis and differences in adipocytes number and size. There are currently no studies regarding apoptosis in the MAT of CD individuals, nor in the animal model of hypertrophied MAT with associated colitis. With this purpose in mind, we used TUNEL assay to evaluate apoptosis in the intestinal mucosa and in MAT, which revealed significantly fewer apoptotic cells in CD, when compared to the control groups, not only in the intestinal mucosa, but also in MAT.