In: Biology
I have been told that there is some conflict within the scientific community as to how abnormalities in the IL23 gene can lead to Crohns disease. Can someone please describe any conflicting theories or alternative pathways that go from defective IL23 gene to Crohns disease?
Crohns disease is a condition wherein the digestive tract gets inflammed, also known as one of inflammatory bowel disease.IL23 cytokine has been found to be elevated in pateints with Crohns disease.Many treatment paths to treat Crohns disease target IL23, specifically the IL23 p19 subunit.It also has an IL12p40 subunit also shared by IL12 cytokine, thusmany treatments for the disease target both IL23 and IL12.IL23 mediates the intestinal inflammation path via its receptor IL23R, which also shares a subunit with IL12 receptor, the IL12beta1 subunit and another novel IL23R subunit. IL23 has been shown to initate the inflammatory cascade via production of IL-17 and TNFgamma.
There has been proof of differential role of IL12 in the inflammatory response in Crohns disease in absence of IL23.
Variants and various SNPs(Single Nucelotide Polymorphisms) in the IL23R have been also linked with susceptibility to Crohns disease.