Open AccessExtraluminal factors contributing to inflammatory bowel disease
Author(s) -
Arvind Batra,
Thomas Stroh,
Britta Siegmund
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
world journal of gastroenterology
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.427
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 2219-2840
pISSN - 1007-9327
DOI - 10.3748/wjg.v17.i5.572
Subject(s) - inflammatory bowel disease , pathogenesis , immune system , disease , immunology , lymphatic system , immune dysregulation , medicine , inflammation , inflammatory bowel diseases , genome wide association study , biology , pathology , gene , genetics , genotype , single nucleotide polymorphism
Many identified and yet unknown factors contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The genome-wide association studies clearly support the earlier developed concept that IBD occurs in genetically predisposed individuals who are exposed to distinct environmental factors, which together result in dysregulation of the mucosal immune system. Thus, the majority of previous studies have focused on the immune response within the intestinal wall. The present review aims to emphasize the contribution of three extraluminal structures to this inflammatory process, namely the mesenteric fat tissue, the lymphatics and the microvasculature. Broadening our view across the intestinal wall will not only facilitate our understanding of the disease, but will also us to identify future therapeutic targets.