Inflammatory bowel diseases are group of chronic inflammatorydisorders that affect the gastrointestinal tract .There are two major forms: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The etiology of IBD is a result of complex interactions between genetics, immune dysregulation, and environmental factors. Crohn's disease occurs in attacks of remission and relapse and characterized by patchy transmural inflammation that affect all layers of the intestine in any part of the GIT. It is presented clinically by chronic diarrhea with or without blood, mucus and may be associated with extraintestinal manifestations.
Long non coding RNA (LncRNAs) are transcripts that are longer than 200 nucleotides. Dysregulation of lncRNAexpression is linked to the development of various diseases. Evolving studies show that lncRNAs play important roles in the pathogenesis of IBD.Several genes were significantly upregulated specially the lncRNAs interferon gamma antisense 1 (IFNG-AS1), while others are down regulated in active cases of Crohn's disease.
AIM OF THE WORK:
The aim of the work was to assess the role of serum lncRNA (IFNG-AS1) as a marker of disease activity in patients with Crohn's disease.