Chronic inflammation of the intestinal mucosa is considered to result from inappropriate mucosal immune responses against components present in the luminal fluid in genetically predisposed individuals, with alternating relapse and remission episodes. The aim of this special issue is to present recent advances in the field of the identification of luminal compounds (bacterial toxins, bacterial metabolites, components of the bacterial cells) that appear implicated in the development of inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and irritable bowel syndrome). Also, advances on the presumed mechanisms of action that link modifications of the composition of the luminal environment to signs of mucosal inflammation in different situations will be developed.

This special issue of Exploration of Medicine will bring together data from both experimental and clinical works in the form of Original Article and Review papers.

Keywords: Inflammatory bowel diseases, luminal environment, bacterial toxins, bacterial metabolites, bacterial components