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Immune Responses to Intestinal Microbes in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

  • Autoimmunity (TK Tarrant, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, are characterized by chronic, T-cell-mediated inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract that can cause significant, lifelong morbidity. Data from both human and animal studies indicate that IBDs are likely caused by dysregulated immune responses to resident intestinal microbes. Certain products from mycobacteria, fungi, and Clostridia stimulate increased effector T cell responses during intestinal inflammation, whereas other bacterial products from Clostridia and Bacteroides promote anti-inflammatory regulatory T cell responses. Antibody responses to bacterial and fungal components may help predict the severity of IBDs. While most currently approved treatments for IBDs generally suppress the patient’s immune system, our growing understanding of microbial influences in IBDs will likely lead to the development of new diagnostic tools and therapies that target the intestinal microbiota.

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Dr. Hansen declares no conflict of interest.

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  1. Departments of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB 7032, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7032, USA

    Jonathan J. Hansen

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Correspondence to Jonathan J. Hansen.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Autoimmunity

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Hansen, J.J. Immune Responses to Intestinal Microbes in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 15, 61 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-015-0562-9

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