Pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease

Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), the primary constituents of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), are inflammatory conditions induced by complex interactions between environmental, genetic, microbial and immunoregulatory factors. Although the etiology remains unclear, a growing body of data implicates a dysfunctional mucosal immune system that overreacts to normal constituents of the commensal microflora. Advances in the understanding of pathogenesis of IBD will allow to conceptually characterize these disorders into a spectrum of related, but distinct subgroups that have clear etiologies and open up the possibility for an expanded range of novel therapies with targeted efficacy. Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.