BIOM2015 Lecture Notes - Ulcerative Colitis, Gut Flora, Cytotoxic T Cell
Document Summary
Disturbance in the balance between gut commensal bacteria & host response in intestinal mucosa. Epithelial cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of ibd. Anywhere along digestive tract (mainly affected in terminal ileum & colon) Il-36 inhibition of treg (intestinal homeostasis) indirectly promotes inflammation. Il-13 released by natural killer t cells ? contribution to barrier dysfunction: macrophage infiltration tnf, il- 12/23/6 release reduced barrier resistance. Uc patients, twice as likely in uc as compared to general population: can be symptomatic for years before diagnosis, symptoms often associated with disease phenotype and location high individual variation, can be more difficult to diagnose than uc. General symptoms: abdominal pain & diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, low-grade fever. Stricture related: bowel obstruction characterized by reduced bowel activity, increased bowel sounds, nausea, vomiting. Diagnosed sufferers may be in long states of remission with mild or no symptoms. However, recurring and severe flare-ups of symptoms often occur.
