Ulcerative colitis: focus on colonic mucosal resistance

In recent decades, following cooperation between scientists in various specialties, new unique data on the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis have been obtained. The role of an impaired immune response to antigens of gut microbiota in genetically predisposed individuals under the effect of certain environmental factors was proven. Assessing the interaction between the colonic mucosa and gut microbiota will help to understand the mechanisms of ulcerative colitis and develop new treatment strategies for the disease. This review presents modern views on the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis with a focus on the imbalance between local protective and aggressive factors of the gastric and intestinal mucosa. The structure and role of the epithelial barrier both under normal conditions and in ulcerative colitis are considered in detail. The aim of this review was to summarize the data on resistance of the colonic mucosa and its damage in ulcerative colitis.