Editorial [Hot Topic: The Impact of Microbiota and Cytokines on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Executive Editors: Osamu Kanauchi and Keiichi Mitsuyama)]

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing disorder associated with uncontrolled inflammation within the gastrointestinal tract, which has been shown to predispose patients to the development of colorectal cancer later in life. The pathogenesis of IBD is complex, but the current model favors a dysregulated cytokine network that is triggered by intestinal microbiota in a genetically-susceptible host. Interestingly, a germ free rodent model was reported not to cause cytokine dysregulation and intestinal inflammation. Therefore, microbiota and cytokines are both considered as theoretical targets for therapeutic approaches in IBD. This special issue of Current Pharmaceutical Design focuses on the role of microbiota and cytokines in IBD. Furthermore, therapeutic approaches targeting these two factors are also discussed including functional food and the pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment modalities. First of all, Possemiers S, et al. provided a brief overview on the importance of the indigenous microbial community and its enormous metabolic potential, microbe-microbe interactions, mechanisms of host-bacterium cross-talk and discussed the onset of obesity, a specific disease state in which intestinal microbiota play a role [1]. Andoh A, et al. provided a review focusing on new insights into the role of commensal microbiota in gut health and disease, and presented recent advances in molecular approaches to the imbalance of intestinal microbiota in IBD [2]. Kanauchi O, et al. introduced the therapeutic impact of manipulating microbiota in IBD [3]. This review shows that the administration of selected prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics may improve the clinical outcome of patients with IBD as a target for new forms of functional food. In addition, they describe the possibility of preventive treatment of IBD-associated colon cancer by using special prebiotics because of their physiologic characteristics and lack of obvious toxicity.