Intestinal epithelial cells as producers but not targets of chronic TNF suffice to cause murine Crohn-like pathology.

ABSTRACT: TNF plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Crohn disease. Dysregulated TNF production in mice that bear the genetic deletion of the TNF AU-rich regulatory elements (ARE) (Tnf(ΔARE/+) mice) results in TNF receptor I (TNFRI)-dependent spontaneous Crohn-like pathology. Current concepts consider intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) responses to TNF to be critical for intestinal pathology, but the potential contribution of IEC-derived TNF in disease pathogenesis has not been addressed. In this study we examined whether IEC are sufficient as cellular targets or sources of TNF in the development of intestinal pathology. Using IEC-specific reactivation of a hypomorphic Tnf(ΔAREneo) allele in mice, we show that selective chronic overproduction of TNF by IEC suffices to cause full development of Cr

SUBMITTER: Roulis M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3069201 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature