Chemokines are recognized as the most critical mediators for selective neutrophil recruitment during inflammatory conditions. Furthermore, they are considered fundamental regulators of neutrophil mobilization from the bone marrow (BM) to the bloodstream and for their homing back at the end of their life for apoptosis and clearance. However, chemokines are also important mediators of neutrophil effector functions including oxidative burst, degranulation, neutrophil extracellular trap (NET)osis, and production of inflammatory mediators. Neutrophils have been historically considered as a homogeneous population. In recent years, several maturation stages and subsets with different phenotypic profiles and effector functions were described both in physiological and pathological conditions such as infections, autoimmunity, and cancer. The aim of this review is to give an overview of the current evidence regarding the role of chemokines and chemokine receptors in neutrophil biology, including their possible role in neutrophil maturation, differentiation, and in defining emerging neutrophil subsets.

NAFLD is more common and occurs at a younger age in IBD than in nonIBD subjects. However, further investigation is required to ascertain possible NAFLD pathogenic IBD-related factors other than conventional/metabolic ones. 10.1093/ibd/izy051_video1izy051.video15774874877001.

Our study showed a lower FMD in IBD patients. Inflammation and immune response could explain endothelial dysfunction, which is the earliest stage of atherosclerotic process. IBD patients in active phase might therefore be at higher risk for atherosclerosis progression.

The processus vaginalis (PV) is a peritoneal diverticulum which forms to allow descent of the fetal testis to the scrotum. During human development fusion and obliteration of the PV often fails to occur with the result that inguinal hernias are the most prevalent congenital abnormality requiring surgery in childhood. Androgen is proposed to regulate testicular descent via the genitofemoral nerve which releases the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). It is possible that subsequent fusion of the PV and tissue remodelling following descent is indirectly controlled by androgen via CGRP action. An organ culture assay was developed to assess fusion of the PV taken from inguinal herniotomy in infants. Fusion was induced in vitro by CGRP but not by CGRP 8–37, CGRP 27–37 or dihydrotestosterone in equimolar concentrations. Fusion was accompanied by transformation of the epithelium, as shown by staining of intermediate filament proteins, cytokeratin and vimentin. Localization studies for CGRP receptors on 25 specimens indicated CGRP acts on mesenchymal fibroblasts but not directly on PV epithelium suggesting an indirect pathway. Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor was found to induce fusion of PV and may be involved as an intermediate molecule in the fusion cascade. This study represents the first approach to understanding the humoral control and underlying mechanism by which the PV fuses.

Epidemiological and experimental studies suggest a protective role of some normal components of daily diet (fish oil, milk, and vegetables), estrogens, and phytoestrogens in colorectal cancer. The effect of estrogen seems to be mediated by their binding to estrogen receptor beta (ER-β), one of the two estrogen receptors with high affinity for these hormones. Very recently, the demonstration of an involvement of ER-β in the development of adenomatous polyps of the colon has also been documented, suggesting the use of selective ER-β agonists in primary colorectal cancer prevention. Phytoestrogens are plant-derived compounds that structurally and functionally act as estrogen agonists in mammals. They are characterized by a higher binding affinity to ER-β as compared to estrogen receptor alpha (ER-α), the other estrogen receptor subtype. These biological characteristics explain why the administration of phytoestrogens does not produce the classical side effects associated to estrogen administration (cerebro- and cardiovascular accidents, higher incidence of endometrial and breast cancer) and makes these substances potential candidates for colorectal cancer prevention.