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©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 21, 2008; 14(3): 338-347
Published online Jan 21, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.338
Published online Jan 21, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.338
Inflammatory bowel disease: Genetic and epidemiologic considerations
Judy H Cho, Director, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06519, United States
Correspondence to: Judy H Cho, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine and Genetics, Director, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, Yale University, 300 Cedar St., S155A, New Haven, CT 06519, United States. judy.cho@yale.edu
Telephone: +1-203-7852052
Fax: +1-203-7857273
Received: May 16, 2007
Revised: July 4, 2007
Published online: January 21, 2008
Revised: July 4, 2007
Published online: January 21, 2008
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies have firmly established that many genomic loci contribute to inflammatory bowel disease, especially in Crohn’s disease. These studies have newly-established the importance of the interleukin 23 and autophagy pathways in disease pathogenesis. Future challenges include: (1) the establishment of precisely causal alleles, (2) definition of altered functional outcomes of associated and causal alleles and (3) integration of genetic findings with environmental factors.
Keywords: Crohn's disease; Ulcerative colitis; Interleukin 23; Autophagy; Complex genetics