The large intestine and disorders

• Absorb water
• Immune function

• Oral tolerance.
• New foods taken in, that would cause an immune response if injected.
• Mucosal immune cells bind the antigens and take them into the blood, signalling to the CNS that they are safe.
• The epithelial cells provide a barrier so that the antigens can't enter the blood on their own.
• Gut is in a constant state of controlled inflammation.

The antigens flood through the leaky epithelial cells and cause an immune response, releasing TGFa , a proinflammatory agent that promotes massive inflammation. This inflammation causes further epithelial damage.

• 1. Glucocorticoids
• -general anti inflammatories

• 2. Anti- TNFa drugs
• -monoclonal antibodies bind TNFa and neutralises it

• 3. Sulfosalazine
• -high efficacy
• -mechanism unknown

• Crohn's Disease
• Ulcerative Colitis