Gut microflora: a new target for therapeutic approaches in inflammatory bowel disease.
BACKGROUND
Intestinal microflora contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.


OBJECTIVE
This review summarizes current clinical knowledge about the role of intestinal microflora in inflammatory bowel disease and their importance as targets for new forms of therapy.


METHODS
Recent knowledge on gut microbial ecology, role of microflora, and pattern recognition receptors is summarized in relation to inflammatory bowel disease. The results of in vitro experiments, in vivo animal studies and human clinical trials with the use of agents targeting microflora, including prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics, are described briefly.


CONCLUSIONS
Altering the composition of intestinal microflora through prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics may improve the clinical outcome of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
Mitsuyama
Keiichi
K
Kurume University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Asahi-machi 67, Kurume 830-0011, Japan. ibd@med.kurume-u.ac.jp
Sata
Michio
M
D000818:Animals; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents