About this Research Topic
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease of unknown etiology that is a risk factor for colorectal cancer. In UC, the inflammation is restricted to the innermost layer of the intestine, resulting in ulceration and bloody diarrhea. Multiple factors contribute to UC pathogenesis, including genetic background, environmental and luminal factors, and mucosal immune dysregulation. Currently, UC has evolved into a global burden due to its high incidence in the world. Thus, an improved understanding of the mechanisms underlying UC, the development of novel drugs, and the improvement of the treatment strategy is needed.
UC diagnoses are based on a combination of clinical symptoms, endoscopic evaluation, and histological analysis. Fecal biomarkers, such as fecal calprotectin, fecal lactoferrin, gut microbiota, and colon capsule endoscopy, are emerging as potential diagnostic means to detect and monitor UC. Therapy aims to resolve rectal bleeding, diarrhea, and inflammation. Despite the broad range of emerging therapeutics, even the newest drugs have a remission rate of <50%. Thus, there is a great unmet need for advanced therapies that provide rapid, robust, and sustained disease control for patients with UC.
This Research Topic will publish high-quality papers on this key topic in Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences. It aims to highlight recent advances in the field, emphasizing important directions and new possibilities in the future. Subjects of interest include but are not limited to:
• Advances in the understanding of disease pathogenesis in ulcerative colitis.
• Novel potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with ulcerative colitis.
• Effective prevention and medical treatment of ulcerative colitis.
This Research Topic especially encourages:
• Gut microbiota in ulcerative colitis: insights on pathogenesis and treatment.
• Ulcerative colitis as a possible sequela of COVID-19 Infection: The endless story.
UC diagnoses are based on a combination of clinical symptoms, endoscopic evaluation, and histological analysis. Fecal biomarkers, such as fecal calprotectin, fecal lactoferrin, gut microbiota, and colon capsule endoscopy, are emerging as potential diagnostic means to detect and monitor UC. Therapy aims to resolve rectal bleeding, diarrhea, and inflammation. Despite the broad range of emerging therapeutics, even the newest drugs have a remission rate of <50%. Thus, there is a great unmet need for advanced therapies that provide rapid, robust, and sustained disease control for patients with UC.
This Research Topic will publish high-quality papers on this key topic in Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences. It aims to highlight recent advances in the field, emphasizing important directions and new possibilities in the future. Subjects of interest include but are not limited to:
• Advances in the understanding of disease pathogenesis in ulcerative colitis.
• Novel potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with ulcerative colitis.
• Effective prevention and medical treatment of ulcerative colitis.
This Research Topic especially encourages:
• Gut microbiota in ulcerative colitis: insights on pathogenesis and treatment.
• Ulcerative colitis as a possible sequela of COVID-19 Infection: The endless story.
Keywords: Ulcerative Colitis, Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, Treatment
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
