What sequence of pathogenetic events leads to acute ulcerative colitis?

Abstract

The etiology of ulcerative colitis remains unresolved despite new immunologic, biochemical, and microbiologic observations made in this disease. A sequence of pathogenetic events has been adduced from abnormalities reported from human and experimental colitis with the express purpose of establishing priority of factors that may lead to an attack of acute ulcerative colitis. The presence of undefined bacterial metabolites in the colonic lumen causing specific breakdown of fatty acid oxidation in colonic epithelial cells is proposed to be the initiating event of the disease process that leads to an immune response and eicosanoid response perpetuating epithelial cell damage. The proposals embody the thesis that primary metabolic damage to colonocytes determines the clinical and pathologic manifestations of ulcerative colitis.