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Intestinal homeostasis depends on complex interactions between the microbiota, the intestinal epithelium and the host immune system. Diverse regulatory mechanisms cooperate to maintain intestinal homeostasis, and a breakdown in these pathways may precipitate the chronic inflammatory pathology found in inflammatory bowel disease. It is now evident that immune effector modules that drive intestinal inflammation are conserved across innate and adaptive leukocytes and can be controlled by host regulatory cells. Recent evidence suggests that several factors may tip the balance between homeostasis and intestinal inflammation, presenting future challenges for the development of new therapies for inflammatory bowel disease.

Original publication

DOI

10.1038/nature10208

Type

Journal article

Journal

Nature

Publication Date

15/06/2011

Volume

474

Pages

298 - 306

Keywords

Animals, Autophagy, Epithelium, Homeostasis, Humans, Inflammation, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Intestinal Mucosa, Intestines, Models, Biological, Receptors, Pattern Recognition