| Theme | Now is the time for the "Intestine" -- updates and problems raised to be solved in IBD | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | New therapeutic strategies against IBD based on immunolopathological findings | |
| Publish Date | 2009/01 | |
| Author | Takanori Kanai | Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University |
| Author | Toshifumi Hibi | Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University |
| [ Summary ] | Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are intractable diseases that repeatedly remit and relapse throughout the life of the patient. Although "malignant" leukemia may be cured by bone marrow transplantation, "benign" IBDs are still intractable diseases that persist throughout the patient's life. Why is it that once an IBD develops it persists for a prolonged period ? We propose that immune memory CD4 T cells that remember the disease are formed in IBDs, and, they may be perceived as "benign T-cell leukemia" -like cells leading to a lifelong pathology which hematogenously spreads throughout the body. Therefore, we suggest there is great potential for systemic therapy. It is postulated that resetting of the immune system may be a useful technique, methods to accomplish this include bone marrow transplantation, with the aim of complete removal of oligogenic CD4 memory T cells. These cells remember the disease and are retained in the body for long periods. | |