Fibrosis is characterized by a proliferation of fibroblasts and excessive extracellular matrix following chronic inflammation, and this replacement of organ tissue with fibrotic tissue causes a loss of function. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, and intestinal fibrosis is common in IBD patients, resulting in several complications that require surgery, such as a stricture or penetration. This review describes the pathogenesis and various factors involved in intestinal fibrosis in IBD, including cytokines, growth factors, epithelial-mesenchymal and endothelial-mesenchymal transitions, and gut microbiota. Furthermore, histopathologic findings and scoring systems used for stenosis in IBD are discussed, and differences in the fibrosis patterns of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are compared. Biomarkers and therapeutic agents targeting intestinal fibrosis are briefly mentioned at the end.
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Endoscopic assessment has a crucial role in the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It is particularly useful for the assessment of IBD disease extension, severity, and neoplasia surveillance. Recent advances in endoscopic imaging techniques have been revolutionized over the past decades, progressing from conventional white light endoscopy to novel endoscopic techniques using molecular probes or electronic filter technologies. These new technologies allow for visualization of the mucosa in detail and monitor for inflammation/dysplasia at the cellular or sub-cellular level. These techniques may enable us to alter the IBD surveillance paradigm from four quadrant random biopsy to targeted biopsy and diagnosis. High definition endoscopy and dye-based chromoendoscopy can improve the detection rate of dysplasia and evaluate inflammatory changes with better visualization. Dye-less chromoendoscopy, including narrow band imaging, iScan, and autofluorescence imaging can also enhance surveillance in comparison to white light endoscopy with optical or electronic filter technologies. Moreover, confocal laser endomicroscopy or endocytoscopy have can achieve real-time histology evaluation in vivo and have greater accuracy in comparison with histology. These new technologies could be combined with standard endoscopy or further histologic confirmation in patients with IBD. This review offers an evidence-based overview of new endoscopic techniques in patients with IBD.
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Moxifloxacin promotes two-photon microscopic imaging for discriminating different stages of DSS-induced colitis on mice Yingtong Chen, Xiaoyi Xu, Min Wang, Xiang Wang, Yan Wang, Yong Zhang, Jin Huang, Yuwen Tao, Wentao Fan, Lili Zhao, Li Liu, Zhining Fan Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy.2024; 48: 104220. CrossRef
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Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is an uncommon association with idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often leading to a variety of serious complications. A total of 41 resected cases of IBD were examined to elucidate the pathologic features of intestinal CMV infection which was assessed by histologic examination and confirmed by immunohistochemistry with CMV antibody. Six cases were positve for CMV antibody; five cases in 19 ulcerative colitis (UC, 26.3%) and one case in 22 Crohn's disease (CD, 4.5%). Of 7 cases of the steroid-treated UC group, five cases were superinfected with CMV (71.4%) but none in 12 cases of the steroid-untreated UC group. All of the five CMV-positive cases in UC showed deep ulceration and transmural inflammation, while none of 10 UC cases without above features were CMV positive. Fibrinoid necrosis and thrombi were found in 83.3% of the CMV infected group, while none in the CMV-negative group of UC cases (p=0.01). We conclude that IBD, particularly UC, is susceptible to the CMV infection when steroid hormone is administered, and that deep colonic ulceration, transmural inflammation and fibrinoid necrosis of vasculature may suggest superinfection of CMV in UC patients. It seems that deep colonic ulceration may be the consequence of an ischemic change following vascular luminal occlusion or vasculitis by CMV infection.
BACKGROUND The statins, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, are approved for cholesterol reduction, and may also be beneficial in the treatment of inflammatory disease. In this study, atorvastatin was tested in experimental colitis, a disease model of inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS To induce colitis, dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) or trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) were administrated to C57BL/6 or BALB/c mice. Mice were monitored daily for loss of body weight and survival for indicated days. Colon length and histology were examined after sacrifice. RESULTS The administration of DSS induced marked colonic inflammation and shortening, and resulted in a loss of body weight. DSSinduced colitis was not affected by atorvastatin treatment, but in contrast, the administration of atorvastatin relieved TNBS-induced colitis with a resultant rapid recovery of weight loss and a reduction in colonic length shortening. Histologically, inflammatory cell infiltration in the colonic wall, mucosal ulceration and crypt disruption were also suppressed in atorvastatin treated mice. CONCLUSION These results suggest that atorvastatin preserves intestinal integrity in colitis, probably via the modulation of Th cell-mediated immune response, in a manner independent of innate immunity.