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The Latest Research in Intestinal Inflammation and Immunity

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2027 | Viewed by 1603

Editors


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Guest Editor
Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Mexico City CP 14080, Mexico
Interests: mechanisms regulating intestinal immunity in inflammatory bowel disease; immunology of cardiovascular diseases; autoimmunity and inflammation in myositis, Sjogren's Syndrome, psoriais; regulatory T cells

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Guest Editor
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinic, Department of Gastroenterology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion Salvador Zubiran, Ciudad de México 14080, Mexico
Interests: inflammatory bowel disease; Crohn's disease; ulcerative colitis; plaque psoriasis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are chronic diseases with periods of activity and remission. Despite the great progress made in understanding the etiology of IBD, it is not fully elucidated. However, many studies point to important genetic, environmental, and immunological factors in the occurrence of these conditions. Understanding the molecular and immunological mechanisms in the pathogenesis process can influence the therapeutic process.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to deepen knowledge and gather information on molecular and pathophysiological mechanisms of inflammatory bowel disease and also to present the complete current situation of this field and its future prospects.

To ensure the diversity of approaches and viewpoints among authors, we will collect different types of articles, such as original articles, systematic reviews, and communications.

Dr. Gabriela Fonseca-Camarillo
Dr. Jesús Yamamoto-Furusho
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • ulcerative colitis
  • mucins
  • inflammation
  • immunoregulation
  • T cells
  • B cells
  • Crohn’s disease
  • cytokines

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 27569 KB  
Article
Differential Expression Profiles of Orphan Nuclear Receptors (NR4A) and N-myc Downstream-Regulated Gene Family (NDRG) in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
by Gabriela Fonseca-Camarillo, Janette Furuzawa-Carballeda, Diana Aguilar-León, Rafael Barreto-Zuñiga, Braulio Martínez-Benítez and Jesús K. Yamamoto-Furusho
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(11), 4769; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27114769 - 26 May 2026
Viewed by 444
Abstract
NDRG1 protein engages with the orphan nuclear receptor NR4A1, effectively suppressing the transcriptional activity of NF-κB and influencing the inflammatory response. However, the specific roles of the NDRG family and NR4A transcription factors in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remain poorly defined, particularly regarding [...] Read more.
NDRG1 protein engages with the orphan nuclear receptor NR4A1, effectively suppressing the transcriptional activity of NF-κB and influencing the inflammatory response. However, the specific roles of the NDRG family and NR4A transcription factors in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remain poorly defined, particularly regarding potential differential mechanisms between ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). We hypothesize that NDRG–NR4A interactions are differentially regulated in UC versus CD, contributing to disease-specific modulation of NF-κB signaling and inflammatory responses. Therefore, the aim was to analyze gene and protein expression of both protein families (NDRGs: NDRG1, NDRG2, NDRG3, and NDRG4; and NR4A: NR4A1, NR4A2, and NR4A3), their contributions to UC and CD, and their association with disease severity. In this cross-sectional and comparative study, we assess gene and protein expression of NR4A and NDRG1-4 in 38 UC patients, 10 CD patients, and 18 controls. Gene and protein expression levels were measured by RT-PCR (mucosa) and immunohistochemistry (colonic tissue), respectively. The colonic mucosa from remission UC patients showed upregulation of NDRG2 and the nuclear receptor genes NR4A1-3 compared with controls. NDRG4 was upregulated in active UC patients compared with controls. NDRG1 was downmodulated in active and remission UC patients compared with controls. All differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Decreased NR4A2 gene expression was associated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (p = 0.030) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels (p = 0.001). Our results provide the first evidence of differential alterations in the NDRG–NR4A axis in UC and CD, which could modulate NF κB signaling and the inflammatory profile differently in each disease, opening the possibility of new therapeutic options. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Latest Research in Intestinal Inflammation and Immunity)
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Review

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17 pages, 708 KB  
Review
Obesity: An Overlooked Factor in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
by Jiao Xie, Yan Ling, Shi Wang and Rui Gong
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(9), 3911; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27093911 - 28 Apr 2026
Viewed by 747
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, immune-mediated disorder characterized by relapsing inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Over the past decades, both the prevalence of IBD and the rates of obesity have increased globally, highlighting the potential impact of obesity on IBD pathogenesis [...] Read more.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, immune-mediated disorder characterized by relapsing inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Over the past decades, both the prevalence of IBD and the rates of obesity have increased globally, highlighting the potential impact of obesity on IBD pathogenesis and progression. Obesity is associated with a state of chronic low-grade inflammation, metabolic dysregulation, and altered gut microbiota, all of which may influence the onset, severity, and prognosis of IBD. However, existing evidence on the relationship between obesity and IBD remains limited and sometimes contradictory, with heterogeneity in study populations, obesity definitions, and outcome measures contributing to inconsistent findings. In this review, we summarize the epidemiology of obesity among IBD patients, explore the shared mechanisms linking obesity and IBD, discuss the influence of obesity on disease course, and evaluate the effects of currently available weight management interventions. This comprehensive overview aims to provide a clearer understanding of the complex interplay between obesity and IBD and to inform clinical management strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Latest Research in Intestinal Inflammation and Immunity)
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