Table 1.

Evidence for failure of the integrity of the intestinal epithelial as an early event in the pathogenesis of Crohn’s disease

❑ Genetic polymorphisms in Muc19 increase risk for Crohn’s disease

❑ Increased intestinal permeability in first degree relatives of CD patients

❑ Increased intestinal permeability in CD patients in remission (which predicts subsequent flare)

❑ Mice deficient for mdr1a, claudin-7, or muc2 develop colitis

❑ In longitudinal studies in mice, permeability defect precedes development of inflammation