Cell Apoptosis and Ulcerative Colonitis

The etiology and pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis(UC)remain unclear now.The recent studies have shown that the abnormal change in intestinal mucosal apoptosis plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of UC.The acceleration of apoptosis in colonic epithelial cells and suppression of apoptosis in intestinal lamina propria T-lymphocytes,neutrophils,and other inflammatory cells may contribute to the occurrence and progression of UC.Apoptosis is controlled by some genes,such as CD95,Apo-2.7,Bcl-2 and nuclear factor B in UC.CD95 and Apo-2.7 mainly accelerate the epithelial cell apoptosis,whereas Bcl-2 and nuclear factor B mainly inhibit the apoptosis in lymphocytes,neutrophils and other inflammatory cells,impairing intestinal epithelia,inducing inflammatory cell infiltration,and promoting the occurrence of UC.