[The role of translational research in inflammatory bowel disease].
The idiopathic inflammatory bowel diseases, broadly classified as either Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, are caused by a dysregulated mucosal immune response to a luminal antigen, possibly a bacterium, in a genetically predisposed host. A rapid expansion of knowledge in recent years has greatly increased our understanding of the pathophysiology of these disorders. For example, the relatively recent discovery of the NOD2 gene, a protein involved in bacterial sensing, has provided further evidence of the complex interplay between hosts and microbes in Crohn's disease. Significant recent advances have also occurred with the discovery of the role of Toll-like receptors and dendritic cells in the development of gut inflammation, and the role of proinflammatory cytokines in the development and potentiation of gut inflammation. This article presents an update on these key developments and emphasizes the translational aspects of research that are directly related to patient care.
Abreu
María T
MT
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA. maria.abreu@mssm.edu
Sparrow
Miles P
MP
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007110:Immunity, Active; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007249:Inflammation; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000069285:Infliximab; D009154:Mutation; D053473:Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein / Q000235:genetics; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012377:Rodentia; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D053473:Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D000069285:Infliximab; C456519:visilizumab