# Deciphering the immunocellular regulatory network in inflammatory bowel disease: from susceptibility genes to cellular effectors and toward precision therapies

**Authors:** Zhuzhu Wu, Xiaolin Wang, Zitong Guan, Mengxue Han, Wenke Ma, Jie Li, Shuai Man, Zhenguo Wang, Qibiao Wu

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1719366 · Frontiers in Immunology · 2026-01-27

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how genetic and immune factors contribute to inflammatory bowel disease and explores new precision therapies to improve treatment outcomes.

## Contribution

The paper integrates recent genetic findings, immune cell interactions, and novel therapies to advance personalized treatment strategies for IBD.

## Key findings

- Susceptibility genes like IL23R and NOD2 influence immune function and barrier integrity in IBD.
- Single-cell technologies reveal new cell subsets and interactions that explain disease heterogeneity.
- Precision therapies, including biologics and microbiota-based interventions, show promise for improving IBD treatment.

## Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, immune-mediated intestinal disorder driven by dysregulated immune responses in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite recent advances in treatment, more than 30% of patients either fail to respond initially or lose response over time, underscoring the need for a deeper mechanistic understanding of immunogenetic pathways and the development of individualized therapeutic strategies. We first discuss how newly identified susceptibility genes (e.g., IL23R, NOD2, BDNF, SLC) and their polymorphisms influence immune cell function and epithelial barrier integrity. Single-cell technologies have further revealed novel cell subsets and interactions underlying disease heterogeneity. We then explore the clinical efficacy of classical and emerging targeted therapies, including cytokine-specific biologics, JAK inhibitors, and novel strategies aimed at restoring regulatory T-cell function or blocking integrin-mediated lymphocyte trafficking. Additionally, we highlight promising therapeutic approaches such as fecal microbiota transplantation, microbial metabolite-based interventions, and nanotherapeutics. We further discuss how genetic insights and immune biomarkers can facilitate treatment personalization and improve prognostic stratification. Ultimately, this review emphasizes the transition from broad immunosuppression to precision medicine and proposes integrated approaches—combining multiomics profiling, immune monitoring, and novel therapeutics—to achieve sustained remission and improve long-term outcomes in IBD patients.

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** IL23R (interleukin 23 receptor) [NCBI Gene 149233], NOD2 (nucleotide binding oligomerization domain containing 2) [NCBI Gene 64127], BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor) [NCBI Gene 627], CCL21 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 21) [NCBI Gene 6366]
- **Diseases:** inflammatory bowel disease (MONDO:0005265)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor) [NCBI Gene 627] {aka ANON2, BULN2}, IL23R (interleukin 23 receptor) [NCBI Gene 149233] {aka PSORS7}, NOD2 (nucleotide binding oligomerization domain containing 2) [NCBI Gene 64127] {aka ACUG, BLAU, BLAUS, CARD15, CD, CLR16.3}, CCL21 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 21) [NCBI Gene 6366] {aka 6Ckine, CKb9, ECL, SCYA21, SLC, TCA4}
- **Diseases:** intestinal disorder (MESH:D007410), IBD (MESH:D015212)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

_Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12886050/full.md

## Figures

2 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12886050/full.md

## References

292 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12886050/full.md

---
Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12886050