Inflammatory bowel disease

Lee, S. J. and Maizels, R. M. (2014) Inflammatory bowel disease. Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health, 2014(1), p. 95. (doi: 10.1093/emph/eou017) (PMID:24747119) (PMCID:PMC4204624)

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an immunological disorder, encompassing Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which are characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation targeted at harmless commensal bacteria and food antigens. Although the aetiology of IBD remains unclear, environmental factors in susceptible individuals appear to trigger immunological responses that inflame and damage tissues of the digestive tract. Prevalence of IBD is markedly higher in industrialized and affluent countries [1] (see Fig. 1). Evidence of a major underlying role for genetic predisposition to IBD raises the likelihood that the origins of disease and the susceptibility of the current human ‘immunome’ is the evolutionary consequence of marked and prolonged genetic selective pressure exerted by infectious pathogens [3].

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Maizels, Professor Rick
• Authors: Lee, S. J., and Maizels, R. M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Journal Name: Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• ISSN: 2050-6201
• ISSN (Online): 2050-6201
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © The Authors 2014
• First Published: First published in Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health 2014:95
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons license