Abstract
Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis are the two principal forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The root causes of these chronic and acute immunological disorders are unclear, but intestinal microorganisms are known to play a key role in the initiation and maintenance of disease. However, at present, there is no clear evidence for a single transmissible agent being involved in IBD aetiology. Although marked alterations occur in faecal and mucosal bacterial communities in IBD, it is unclear whether they are responsible for causing disease, or are due to changes in the gut environment that result from inflammatory reactions and extensive tissue destruction. Despite the involvement of microorganisms in inflammatory processes, antibiotic therapy has generally been unsuccessful in IBD. However, recent studies involving the use of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics suggest that there is potential for controlling these diseases through manipulation of the composition of the gut microbiota, and direct interactions with the gut immune system.
Keywords: Inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, gut microbiota, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, sulphur metabolism
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: The Gut Microbiota in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Volume: 15 Issue: 13
Author(s): G. T. Macfarlane, K. L. Blackett, T. Nakayama, H. Steed and S. Macfarlane
Affiliation:
Keywords: Inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, gut microbiota, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, sulphur metabolism
Abstract: Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis are the two principal forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The root causes of these chronic and acute immunological disorders are unclear, but intestinal microorganisms are known to play a key role in the initiation and maintenance of disease. However, at present, there is no clear evidence for a single transmissible agent being involved in IBD aetiology. Although marked alterations occur in faecal and mucosal bacterial communities in IBD, it is unclear whether they are responsible for causing disease, or are due to changes in the gut environment that result from inflammatory reactions and extensive tissue destruction. Despite the involvement of microorganisms in inflammatory processes, antibiotic therapy has generally been unsuccessful in IBD. However, recent studies involving the use of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics suggest that there is potential for controlling these diseases through manipulation of the composition of the gut microbiota, and direct interactions with the gut immune system.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Macfarlane T. G., Blackett L. K., Nakayama T., Steed H. and Macfarlane S., The Gut Microbiota in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2009; 15 (13) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161209788168146
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161209788168146 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Glucagon-like Peptides, the Central Nervous System, and the Regulation of Energy Homeostasis
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Central Nervous System Agents Radiolabelled Probes Targeting Infection and Inflammation for Personalized Medicine
Current Pharmaceutical Design DNA Methylation and miRNAs Regulation in Hereditary Breast Cancer: Epigenetic Changes, Players in Transcriptional and Post- Transcriptional Regulation in Hereditary Breast Cancer
Current Molecular Medicine Improving the Efficiency and Safety of Aspirin by Complexation with the Natural Polysaccharide Arabinogalactan
Current Drug Delivery Corticotropin Releasing Factor (CRF) Peptide Family and their Receptors: Divergent Actions Influencing Human Physiology
Current Genomics Clinical and Pharmacological Aspects of Inflammatory Demyelinating Diseases in Childhood: An Update
Current Neuropharmacology Immunological Properties of Donkeys Milk: Its Potential Use in the Prevention of Atherosclerosis
Current Pharmaceutical Design The Molecular Functions of Nod Proteins and their Associated Diseases
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents New Advances in Infant Feeding: New Products and Novel Technologies
Recent Patents on Food, Nutrition & Agriculture Review of the Contribution of Radiolabelled Tracers for Tumour Cell Status Imaging
Current Medical Imaging Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Psychiatry
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued) Characterization of Phosphorylated Proteins Using Mass Spectrometry
Current Protein & Peptide Science Roles of Natural Compounds from Medicinal Plants in Cancer Treatment: Structure and Mode of Action at Molecular Level
Medicinal Chemistry Active Metabolites Resulting from Decarboxylation, Reduction and Ester Hydrolysis of Parent Drugs
Current Drug Metabolism Perinatal Management of Fetal Tumors
Current Pediatric Reviews Crohns Targeted Therapy: Myth or Real Goal?
Current Drug Discovery Technologies Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Current κ Opioid Receptor Ligands and Discovery of a New Molecular Scaffold as a κ Opioid Receptor Antagonist Using Pharmacophore-Based Virtual Screening
Current Pharmaceutical Design Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Clinical Overview of New Diagnostic and Treatment Approaches
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Melatonin, A Natural Programmed Cell Death Inducer in Cancer
Current Medicinal Chemistry