Non-TGFβ profibrotic signaling in ulcerative colitis after in vivo experimental intestinal injury in humans

The study reveals the regulatory dynamics of epithelial regeneration and extracellular matrix remodeling after experimental injury of the human colon in vivo and shows that human intestinal regeneration is different from data obtained from animals. A lag phase in epithelial restitution is associated with induction of stromal cell-derived epithelial growth factors. Postinjury regeneration is transforming growth factor β-independent, and we find a profibrotic response in patients with ulcerative colitis despite being in remission.