Crohn disease: A current perspective on genetics, autophagy and immunity

• Published in: Autophagy Vol. 7; no. 4; pp. 355 - 374
• Main Authors: Stappenbeck, Thaddeus S., Rioux, John D., Mizoguchi, Atsushi, Saitoh, Tatsuya, Huett, Alan, Darfeuille-Michaud, Arlette, Wileman, Tom, Mizushima, Noboru, Carding, Simon, Parkes, Miles, Xavier, Ramnik J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 01.04.2011; Landes Bioscience
• Subjects: Adrenal Cortex Hormones - therapeutic use; Atg16L1; Autophagy; Autophagy-Related Proteins; Binding; Biology; Bioscience; Calcium; Cancer; Carrier Proteins - genetics; Cell; Chronic Disease; Colitis, Ulcerative - physiopathology; Crohn Disease - genetics; Crohn Disease - immunology; Crohn Disease - physiopathology; Cycle; dendritic cells; Dendritic Cells - metabolism; gastrointestinal; genome-wide association; Genome-Wide Association Study; Genotype; gut microbiota; Humans; inflammatory bowel diseases; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases - physiopathology; Intestines - microbiology; IRGM; Landes; Organogenesis; Paneth cell; Paneth Cells - metabolism; Proteins; Recurrence; Review; Th17 Cells - metabolism; ulcerative colitis
• ISSN: 1554-8627; 1554-8635
• DOI: 10.4161/auto.7.4.13074

Crohn disease (CD) is a chronic and debilitating inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract. 1 Prevalence in western populations is 100-150/100,000 and somewhat higher in Ashkenazi Jews. Peak incidence is in early adult life, although any age can be affected and a majority of affected individuals progress to relapsing and chronic disease. Medical treatments rely significantly on empirical corticosteroid therapy and immunosuppression, and intestinal resectional surgery is frequently required. Thus, 80% of patients with CD come to surgery for refractory disease or complications. It is hoped that an improved understanding of pathogenic mechanisms, for example by studying the genetic basis of CD and other forms of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), will lead to improved therapies and possibly preventative strategies in individuals identified as being at risk.