The role of innate immunity in chronic intestinal inflammation and fibrosis: towards a cure for Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic recurrent inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract (Inflammatory Bowel Disease, IBD). In the majority of patients, chronic inflammation leads to remodelling of the gut wall which lies at the basis of complications such as ulcers, fistulas/abscesses, fibrosis and strictures. Despite the severe consequences of these complications, knowledge about their pathophysiological mechanism is very limited. Recent data from our and other labs showed that macrophages and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are the main effectors in tissue repair and remodeling during intestinal inflammation. Thus, we propose to integrate clinical and genetic data obtained from IBD patients with murine chronic models of intestinal inflammation to understand how defects in ILC and macrophage reparative functions can result in intestinal fibrosis. Identification of new molecules and pathways involved in this process will potentially give rise to new approaches to prevent/treat fibrosis in IBD.

Keywords:immunity

Disciplines:Laboratory medicine, Palliative care and end-of-life care, Regenerative medicine, Other basic sciences, Other health sciences, Nursing, Other paramedical sciences, Other translational sciences, Other medical and health sciences