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The Intersection of TNF, IBD and the Microbiome
Yava L Jones-Hall1, Cindy H Nakatsu2
1a Comparative Pathobiology Department, Purdue University , West Lafayette , IN , USA.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), comprised of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, is a chronic inflammatory condition of multifactorial etiology and risk factors. Currently, one of the most effective treatments for IBD is the use of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) functional inhibitor drugs, however, this treatment can cause adverse reactions and has a relatively large percentage of incomplete or non-responders. This lack of response may be related to differences in patients' gut microbiomes prior to and after disease initiation or treatment. Recent observations in our lab using a rodent model of IBD support the theory that TNF drives acute colitis, but also that the microbiome differs in association with TNF production and colitis severity. Studies such as this and others provide new insights into host-microbiome interactions associated with colitis that can lead to new therapies to prevent or treat the disease.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), comprised of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, is a chronic inflammatory condition of multifactorial etiology and risk factors. Currently, one of the most effective treatments for IBD is the use of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) functional inhibitor drugs, however, this treatment can cause adverse reactions and has a relatively large percentage of incomplete or non-responders. This lack of response may be related to differences in patients' gut microbiomes prior to and after disease initiation or treatment. Recent observations in our lab using a rodent model of IBD support the theory that TNF drives acute colitis, but also that the microbiome differs in association with TNF production and colitis severity. Studies such as this and others provide new insights into host-microbiome interactions associated with colitis that can lead to new therapies to prevent or treat the disease.
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Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...

