Crohn’s disease mostly affects the large intestine and small intestine. Variation of genes can disrupt autophagy or interfere with the immune system of the digestive system. A combination of genetic factors and environmental factors can cause chronic inflammation. In the pathogenesis of Crohn’s, it mostly affect intestinal walls, mostly the lower part of the small bowel and some parts of the colon. The affected tissues become thicker and swollen causing ulcers in the inner part of the digestive system. Crohn’s disease can start at any age although it mostly affects people in their late teens. Symptoms flare up several times in the patient’s lifetime.
Signs and Symptoms
Signs and symptoms are diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, fever, loss of appetite, and anemia. Some genes relating to Crohn’s disease include nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain, interleukin 23 receptor, immunity-related GTPase m and autophagy-related 16 like 1weight loss which are involved in the functioning of the immune system. Proteins produced by these genes help the immune system to respond to bacteria in the digestive tract. Variation of genes causes disruption of autophagy resulting in Crohn’s disease (Rogler and Hausmann, 2019).
Environmental Factors – Pathogenesis of Crohn’s
Several environmental factors are the pathogenesis of Crohn’s disease which includes smoking cigarettes, dietary habits, breastfeeding, exercise, a Western diet with high fat, pharmaceutical use, low fiber, seasonal variation, appendectomy, air pollution and stress. These factors cause a change in the epithelial function disrupting intestinal flora and both the immune system and innate (Chen et al., 2019).
Pathogenesis of Crohn’s disease involves a complex interaction between environmental factors and genetic predisposition. Crohn’s disease has a geographic variation which suggests there is a high environmental impact on its spread and cause. Environmental factors predisposition of inflammatory bowel disease. Crohn’s disease can’t be cured but can be controlled.
References
Chen, Y., Wang, Y. and Shen, J. (2019). Role of environmental factors in the pathogenesis of Crohn’s disease: a critical review. Int J Colorectal Dis; 34(12):2023-2034. doi: 10.1007/s00384-019-03441-9. Epub 2019 Nov 16. PMID: 31732875.
Rogler, G. and Hausmann, M. (2019). The long and winding road: from genetic risk factors to the understanding of disease-pathogenesis in Crohn’s disease. Genes Immun; 20(8):607-608. doi: 10.1038/s41435-019-0060-5. Epub 2019 Feb 18. PMID: 30773533.