AXL: A novel therapeutic target in IBD

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and their sequela (colitis-associate carcinoma and fibrostenotic complications) remain a significant clinical challenge and novel therapeutic targets are desperately needed. AXL, a receptor tyrosine kinase, has been implicated in myriad cellular functions central to the pathogenesis of IBD. These include facilitating epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, dampening of Toll-like receptor and natural killer cell mediated immune responses, driving proliferation, and propagating fibrogenic signaling. The vast majority of preclinical research on AXL has focused on its role in cancer. As such, pharmacologic AXL inhibitors are currently in clinical trials, but the indications remain limited to malignancy. In this chapter, we summarize the current preclinical data of AXL in IBD, colitis associated carcinoma, and fibrostenotic disease, and highlight its potential as a novel therapeutic target.