Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses chronic idiopathic relapsing and remitting gastrointestinal autoimmune diseases characterized by chronic inflammatory disorders of complex etiology, posing clinical challenges due to their often therapy-refractory nature. The primary disorders within the IBD classification are ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), sharing similarities but exhibiting distinct differences, sometimes making their discrimination challenging.
A prominent feature of IBD is the inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, characterized by the robust and persistent infiltration of immune cells and compromised intestinal barrier integrity, leading to a phenomenon known as "leaky gut." Inflammation can manifest acutely or chronically, known as relapsing, and can increase in severity over time, thereby causing life-long morbidities and reduced quality of life for affected individuals, underscoring the need for a deeper comprehension of the molecular contributors to disease pathogenesis and progression.
