title: Immune dysregulation in the functional gastrointestinal disorders.
abstract: Gastrointestinal conditions may be broadly classified into two: organic and functional disease, with functional disorders accounting for the majority of patients with chronic gastrointestinal symptoms. Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) present with no obvious pathology or well-accepted biochemical mechanism and, as such, treatment strategies are limited and focus on symptoms rather than cure. Irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia are the most widely recognised FGIDs, and there is a growing body of evidence to suggest an underlying inflammatory phenotype in subsets with these conditions. Here, we discuss the current knowledge of immune involvement in FGIDs and the commonalities between the different manifestations of FGIDs and propose a new hypothesis, potentially defining an underlying immunopathological basis of these conditions.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, University of Newcastle & Vaccine and Asthma (VIVA) Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keely
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Marjorie M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, University of Newcastle & Vaccine and Asthma (VIVA) Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Talley
mesh_terms: D064806:Dysbiosis / Q000276:immunology; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000276:immunology; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000276:immunology; D010641:Phenotype
keywords: Dyspepsia; eosinophils; functional gastrointestinal disorders; irritable bowel syndrome; microbiome; mucosal immunology