[Dysregulation of mucosal immunity and inflammatory bowel diseases]

Normal mucosal immunity is regulated in a delicate balance between up- and down-regulatory responses to dietal or bacterial antigens. Recent studies demonstrated that pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease could be dysregulation of the balance of mucosal immunity. Recent advances in animal models of inflammatory bowel disease, pathogenic roles of mucosal immunoregulatory T cells, cytokines and intestinal flora are reviewed.