Immunoregulation: Crohn's disease versus ulcerative colitis

摘要

Since Burrill Bernhard Crohn's first description of ileitis terminalis as a separate disease entity in contrast to colitis ulcerosa in 1932 much has been learned about the differences and similarities between M. Crohn (CD) and colitis ulcerosa (UC). The common feature in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is that of a chronic recurring inflammation of intestine. The inflammation is induced by the mucosa-associated immune system (MALT). Now there is ample evidence that the stimuli for the immune system are luminal antigens from the bacterial flora. Genetic and environmental factors influence the reaction of the immune system to these antigens. Several genetic loci have been described that contribute to IBD susceptibility in humans as well as in animal models4.