THE ROLE OF THE NEUROENDOCRINE SYSTEM IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE.

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are both characterized by chronic, relapsing intestinal inflammation. The aetiology of both forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is still unknown. A potentially interesting area is the immunoregulatory role of enteric neuroendocrine system and neuroendocrine cells. Neuropeprides, like substance F', somatostatin, vasoactive intestinal peptide and calcitonin gene related peptide, are the molecular mediators of neuroregulation of the intestinal immune system, providing for interactions between nervous system and imniunocytes. In this review the role of neuroendocrine system and its neuroimmune modulators in IBD will be highlighted, together with their possible future use in the treatment of IBD.