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World J Gastroenterol. Jul 21, 2011; 17(27): 3178-3183
Published online Jul 21, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i27.3178
Innate and adaptive immunity in inflammatory bowel disease
Britta Siegmund, Martin Zeitz
Britta Siegmund, Martin Zeitz, Medical Department I (Gastroenterology/Rheumatology/Infectious Diseases), Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203 Berlin, Germany
Author contributions: Siegmund B and Zeitz M contributed equally to this work.
Supported by SFB 633 of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Correspondence to: Britta Siegmund, MD, Medical Department I (Gastroenterology/Rheumatology/Infectious Diseases), Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203 Berlin, Germany. britta.siegmund@charite.de
Telephone: +49-30-84454039 Fax: +49-30-84454017
Received: August 14, 2010
Revised: June 10, 2011
Accepted: June 17, 2011
Published online: July 21, 2011
Abstract

Inflammatory bowel diseases are the consequence of a dysregulated mucosal immune system. The mucosal immune system consists of two arms, innate and adaptive immunity, that have been studied separately for a long time. Functional studies from in vivo models of intestinal inflammation as well as results from genome-wide association studies strongly suggest a cross-regulation of both arms. The present review will illustrate this interaction by selecting examples from innate immunity and adaptive immunity, and their direct impact on each other. Broadening our view by focusing on the cross-regulated areas of the mucosal immune system will not only facilitate our understanding of disease, but furthermore will allow identification of future therapeutic targets.

Keywords: Inflammatory bowel diseases, Immune system