The role of IL-13 and NK T cells in experimental and human ulcerative colitis

Abstract

Recent studies that have evaluated the immunologic factors that mediate the development of the two forms of inflammatory bowel disease, namely Crohn ’ s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC), have suggested that these diseases are because of disparate immune responses. Although Crohn ’ s disease has been characterized as a dysregulation of the T helper (Th)1/Th17 pathways more recent evidence has emerged that UC pathogenesis is associated with a nonclassical NK (natural killer) T cell producing an atypical Th2 (interleukin (IL)-13) response. In the following review the insights gained from both animal models and human studies as to the function that IL-13 and NK T cells have in the pathogenesis of UC will be discussed. © 2008 Society for Mucosal Immunology.