Insights from mouse models of colitis.
Emerging studies using mouse models of experimental colitis are defining the nature of the immunological disturbances that initiate inflammation and destruction of the intestine. A better understanding of disease-promoting and -suppressing CD4+ T cells is providing insight into the mechanisms controlling immune responses within the intestinal compartment. Moreover, a role for distinct T cell populations, including intraepithelial gammadelta T cells, in maintaining the physical integrity of the intestine was suggested by recent studies. Cytokine gene-knockout mice and anti-cytokine treatments remain important tools to define the pro- and anti-inflammatory functions of cytokines. These advances are fostering the design and evaluation of new therapeutic approaches that may eventually be applied to treat human inflammatory bowel disease.
Boismenu
R
R
Department of Immunology and Strohm Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA. boismenu@scripps.edu
Chen
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D003092:Colitis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout
D016207:Cytokines