英国科学家在最近的胃肠病学杂志Gut上发表文章称，对炎症性肠病病因研究有新发现，IL23起关键作用。
炎症性肠病（IBD）是一种病因尚不十分清楚的慢性非特异性肠道炎症性疾病，包括溃疡性结肠炎（UC）和克罗恩病(CD)。
人群遗传学和小鼠功能学实验研究证实，白介素23(IL23)及其受体是炎症性肠病(IBD)发病的关键因素。McGovern教授说，IL23的一个重要作用就是引起免疫系统的自分泌，产生大量的炎症介质，从而激发肠道的炎症反应。人群遗传学研究发现，IL23基因与IBD易感性有关。
这一发现，揭示了IL23系统在IBD中的作用，为IBD的治疗提供了新途径。（医学空间）
原始出处:
Gut 2007;56:1333-1336; doi:10.1136/gut.2006.115402
The IL23 axis plays a key role in the pathogenesis of IBD
Dermot McGovern1, Fiona Powrie2
1 Imperial College, London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, UK
2 Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd, Oxford, UK
Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dermot McGovern
Imperial College, London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus Du Cane Road, London W12 0HS, UK; dermotmcgovern@doctors.net.uk
Exciting new results from a genetic study in humans and functional studies in mice have pinpointed interleukin 23 (IL23) and its receptor as a key pathway in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). These findings reveal a hitherto unappreciated role for the IL23 axis in intestinal inflammation and may open new avenues for development of therapeutic strategies in IBD.
Abbreviations: DC, dendritic cell; IBD, irritable bowel disease; IFN, interferon ; IL, interleukin; IL23R, interleukin 23 receptor; SNP, single-nucleotide polymorphism; TGFß, transforming growth factor ß; Th, T helper; TNF, tumour necrosis factor
Figure 1 Interleukin 23 (IL23) orchestrates intestinal inflammation via multiple pathways. Bacterial stimulation induces cytokine production by epithelial cells, dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages (M). Interferon (IFN) and IL12 act on antigen-stimulated CD4+ T cells (Tn) to induce the differentiation of IFN-secreting T helper type 1 (Th1) cells, whereas transforming growth factor ß (TGFß) and IL6 promote Th17 cells that produce IL17 and express the IL23 receptor (IL23R). IL23 produced by activated DCs sustains the Th17 response and also activates innate cells including activated myeloid cells and NK cells (NK) to produce inflammatory cytokines including IL6, tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and IL17 that drive intestinal inflammation. IL17 stimulates cytokine production by activated macrophages and can also induce cytokine and chemokine production by endothelial cells, leading to neutrophil (N) recruiment.
