Inflammatory bowel disease
Core of basic research: Focus on intestinal mucosal barrier damage (abnormal tight junction proteins), the interaction between gut microbiota dysbiosis and immune cells (Th1/Th17), explore the regulation of inflammatory signals by pattern recognition receptors such as NOD2 and TLR9, as well as the pathogenic role of cytokines including TNF-α and IL-12/23.
Core key proteins: TNF-α (core pro-inflammatory cytokine driving mucosal damage), IL-6/IL-12/23/IL-17 (key cytokines in inflammatory cascades), STAT3 (mediates IL-6/IL-17 signaling), NF-κB (core transcription factor of inflammatory pathways), NOD2 (recognizes gut microbiota to regulate inflammation), TLR9 (recognizes bacterial DNA to initiate immunity), CD4+ T cells (Th1/Th17 secreting pro-inflammatory cytokines), MAdCAM-1 (mediates immune cell infiltration into the intestines).