Fig. 1
From: Pathophysiology of Crohn’s disease inflammation and recurrence
Immuno-mediated pathogenesis of Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease is a multifactorial pathology in which a major role is played by alterations at the level of immunity and inflammation. Innate immunity is involved in terms of defects in the mucous barrier (Mut2 and FUT2 genes) while adaptive immunity relies on a TH1 lymphocitic response and TREG cells mediated by cytokines like TNF-α, IL-12, IL-34 and IL-23. The increased migration to the sites of inflammation is also determined by a reshaping of the extra cellular matrix through the action of metalloproteins (MMP-1 and MMP-3) and the overexpression of adhesion molecules such as MAcCAM-1 and integrin α4β4. Finally, also the host pathogen interaction between the intestinal epithelium and the microbiota has been linked to the evolution of the disease. Picture Created with BioRender.com