Figure 1.

A graphical summary of the conversion of MC and IBD to each other. MC and IBD share some intestinal dysbiosis, increased pro-inflammatory factors such as IFN-γ and TNF-α in the conversion of MC to IBD, and common genetic effects between the two. The transformation of IBD to MC may then be triggered by certain risk factors such as MC-related drug use, infection, and mechanistically may be due to an imbalance of the immune response and mucosal repair. MC, microscopic colitis; IBD, inflammatory bowel disease; IFN, interferon; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; Treg, regulatory T-cell; T-bet, T-box transcription factor; IL, interleukin; TGF, transforming growth factor.