Gastrointestinal inflammation: lessons from metabolic modulators

The link between inflammation and metabolism was apparent already early last century, but has recently been revitalized following molecular studies of atherosclerosis, obesity and insulin resistance. A growing list of nuclear receptors, pivotal players in lipid, xenobiotic and energy metabolism has been identified as having immunomodulatory functions. These receptors might hold the key to some of the questions pertinent to chronic inflammation, and can lend themselves to be manipulated as therapeutic agents. This review will attempt to appraise the importance of such mediators in the pathophysiology of chronic inflammation in the colon.