Intestinal homeostasis and its breakdown in inflammatory bowel disease

Nature. 2011 Jun 15;474(7351):298-306. doi: 10.1038/nature10208.

Abstract

Intestinal homeostasis depends on complex interactions between the microbiota, the intestinal epithelium and the host immune system. Diverse regulatory mechanisms cooperate to maintain intestinal homeostasis, and a breakdown in these pathways may precipitate the chronic inflammatory pathology found in inflammatory bowel disease. It is now evident that immune effector modules that drive intestinal inflammation are conserved across innate and adaptive leukocytes and can be controlled by host regulatory cells. Recent evidence suggests that several factors may tip the balance between homeostasis and intestinal inflammation, presenting future challenges for the development of new therapies for inflammatory bowel disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autophagy
  • Epithelium / metabolism
  • Epithelium / pathology
  • Epithelium / physiopathology
  • Homeostasis*
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / genetics
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / immunology
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / pathology*
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Intestinal Mucosa / cytology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / immunology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism*
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / physiopathology
  • Intestines / immunology*
  • Intestines / microbiology
  • Intestines / physiopathology
  • Models, Biological
  • Receptors, Pattern Recognition / metabolism

Substances

  • Receptors, Pattern Recognition