Figure 4).

Prenatal (A) and postnatal (B) environmental influences can impact the interactive biological networks (genome and epigenome of the intestines and the associated immune system) involved in inflammatory bowel disease. The uterus, placenta, and/or amniotic fluid communicate maternal exposures toward the fetus in lack of a commensal microbiota during prenatal development. However, postnatally, environmental exposures directly affect the interactive communication between the intestinal microbiota and the epigenome of the various host systems involved in inflammatory bowel disease