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Review
. 2014 Mar 28;20(12):3255-64.
doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i12.3255.

Dysregulation of mucosal immune response in pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease

Xiao-Rong Xu  1 , Chang-Qin Liu  1 , Bai-Sui Feng  1 , Zhan-Ju Liu  1
Affiliations
Review

Dysregulation of mucosal immune response in pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease

Xiao-Rong Xu et al. World J Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The exact etiology and pathology of IBD remain unknown. Available evidence suggests that an abnormal immune response against the microorganisms in the intestine is responsible for the disease in genetically susceptible individuals. Dysregulation of immune response in the intestine plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of IBD, involving a wide range of molecules including cytokines. On the other hand, besides T helper (Th) 1 and Th2 cell immune responses, other subsets of T cells, namely Th17 and regulatory T cells, are likely associated with disease progression. Studying the interactions between various constituents of the innate and adaptive immune systems will certainly open new horizons of the knowledge about the immunologic mechanisms in IBD.

Keywords: Crohn’s disease; Inflammatory bowel disease; Proinflammatory cytokines; T helper 17 cells; T helper cells; Ulcerative colitis.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. DC: Dendritic cell; NK: Natural killer; Th: T helper; Treg: T regulator cell; CTL: Cytotoxic T lymphocyte; Mf: Macrophages.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Pleiotropic role of interleukin-21 in immune responses. IFN: Interferon; IL: Interleukin; CD: Crohn’s disease; DC: Dendritic cell; NK: Natural killer; CTL: Cytotoxic T lymphocyte.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Overexpression of interleukin-23 in inflamed mucosa of patients with inflammatory bowel disease weakens the intestinal defensive barrier and disturbs the immune regulation in intestinal mucosa. IEL: Intestinal epithelial lymphocyte; IL: Interleukin; Th: T helper; Treg: T regulator cell; DC: Dendritic cell.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Inhibitory role of interleukin-25 in intestinal mucosa. IEL: Intestinal epithelial lymphocyte; IL: Interleukin; Th: T helper; Treg: T regulator cell; CTL: Cytotoxic T lymphocyte; Mf: Macrophages; IEC: Intestinal epithelial cells; IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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