Elevated flagellin-specific immunoglobulins in Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease (CD) is driven by seemingly aberrant immune responses directed toward commensal enteric microflora. However, the specific antigens targeted by this immune response remain largely undefined. Herein, we demonstrate that common enteric flagellins are one such target of the CD-associated immune response. Thus flagellin may not only drive acute inflammation via activation of Toll-like receptor 5-mediated gene expression but may also serve as a target of the adaptive immune response that maintains the chronic inflammation characteristic of CD.