PATHOGENETIC AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE OF CYTOKINES IN INFLAMMATORY BOWEL-DISEASE

Cytokines appear to be integrally involved in the pathogenesis of IBD through their immunoregulatory and effector activities. This pathway will provide new opportunities for specific pharmacologic intervention with limited toxicity and may yield sensitive objective markers of disease activity. Hopefully, determining and comparing profiles of cytokines in tissues of normals, acute self-limited colitis, and active and inactive phases of IBD will permit a clearer understanding of the disordered immunoregulation leading to the unrestrained inflammatory response of IBD. © 1991 Humana Press Inc.