Novel therapeutic targets in the treatment of IBD

BACKGROUND: Advances in mucosal immunology have revealed a broad set of new therapeutic targets to resolve inflammation and symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). OBJECTIVE: Despite the enormous success of anti-TNF therapies in IBD, these treatments have limited efficacy, and there continues to be concerns regarding their toxicity. Thus, a considerable unmet need exists for better treatment of these disorders. METHODS: New therapeutic targets include other pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, IL-12, IL-17 or IFN-gamma, and others. In addition, molecules directing trafficking of inflammatory cells such as integrin alpha(4)beta(7) or intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) might be attractive candidates as anti-inflammatory targets. Targeting intestine-specific homing by blocking chemokine receptors such as CCR9 might provide a new avenue for treatment in the future. CONCLUSION: All these and many other different therapies are currently being investigated in IBD, the challenge will be to develop more effective therapies than those currently available.