[Inflammatory bowel diseases: an immunological approach].
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are inflammatory diseases with a multifactorial component that involve the intestinal tract. The two relevant IBD syndromes are Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). One factor involved in IBD development is a genetic predisposition, associated to NOD2/CARD15 and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) polymorphisms that might favor infectious enterocolitis that is possibly associated to the development of IBD. The identification of specific immunologic alterations in IBD and their relationship to the etiology of the disease is a relevant research topic. The role of intra and extracellular molecules, such as transcription factors and cytokines that are involved in the inflammatory response, needs to be understood. The relevance of immunologic molecules that might drive the immune response to a T helper (Th) 1, Th 2 or the recently described Th 17 phenotype, has been demonstrated in animal models and clinical studies with IBD patients. CD and UC predominantly behave with a Th 1 and Th 2 immune phenotype, respectively. Recently, an association between CD and Th 17 has been reported. The knowledge acquired from immunologic and molecular research will help to develop accurate diagnostic methods and efficient therapies.
Programa Disciplinario de Inmunología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Sofía E
SE
Sepúlveda
Caroll J
CJ
Beltrán
Alexis
A
Peralta
Paola
P
Rivas
Néstor
N
Rojas
Carolina
C
Figueroa
Rodrigo
R
Quera
Marcela A
MA
Hermoso
D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor / Q000276:immunology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D053473:Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; D007378:Interleukins; D053473:Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein; C495345:TLR4 protein, human; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4