Review
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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 14, 2006; 12(42): 6751-6755
Published online Nov 14, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i42.6751
Crohn’s disease: Innate immunodeficiency?
Jesus K Yamamoto-Furusho, Joshua R Korzenik
Jesus K Yamamoto-Furusho, Joshua R Korzenik, Gastro-intestinal Unit and Center for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, United States
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Jesus K Yamamoto-Furusho, Gastrointestinal Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States. kazuofurusho@hotmail.com
Telephone: +1-617-726411 Fax: +1-617-7242136
Received: August 9, 2006
Revised: September 15, 2006
Accepted: September 21, 2006
Published online: November 14, 2006
Abstract

In the past, Crohn’s disease (CD) has been understood primarily as an immunologic disorder characterized by an abnormal T-cell response. Recent in vitro and in vivo data suggests that CD may instead be precipitated by innate immune dysfunction resulting from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Some reports have demonstrated a defective immune response in a variety of other cellular components, including neutrophils, monocytes and dendritic cells. Recent studies of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in CD, aiming to stimulate the innate immune system with the conception that an innate immune defect underlies the development of the disease, have been demonstrated a clinical benefit and reinforce this evolving understanding of the disease.

Keywords: Crohn’s disease; Innate immunity; Immuno-deficiency; NOD2