Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 10, 2026
Chronic Salmonella Infection Induced Intestinal Fibrosis
Published on: September 22, 2019
The inflammation-aging axis: Shared and distinct mechanisms in physiological gut aging and IBD-associated accelerated
Lichao Yang1,2, Zhixian Jiang1, Qi Sun1
1Department of General Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
Abstract:
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and physiological gut aging present with overlapping clinical features, including impaired barrier functioning, decreased nutrient absorption, and intestinal frailty. Emerging evidence indicates that even young IBD patients can exhibit gut phenotypes akin to those seen with aging. However, the two processes differ substantially in their underlying mechanisms. Gut aging is characterized by low-grade, chronic inflammation and gradual cellular senescence, whereas IBD involves persistent immune activation, cyclical tissue damage, and accelerated degenerative changes. This review systematically contrasts physiological gut aging and IBD-associated accelerated gut aging across several dimensions: cellular senescence and programmed cell death, immune cell remodeling, alterations in gut microbiota, changes in mesenteric adipose tissue, and the evolving role of the appendix. By integrating current advances in basic and translational research, this article highlights both the shared and distinct pathways driving gut dysfunction in aging and IBD, and underscores the importance of early recognition and targeted intervention for premature gut aging in clinical practice.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:17Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
01:17Irritable Bowel Syndrome I: Introduction
IBS is a chronic condition that can persist over a long period or recur frequently.
The pathogenesis of IBS involves a complex interplay of the following factors:
Altered...
01:27Inflammatory 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...
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by...
01:26Aging
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...