Differential expression of Toll-like receptor 4, F4/80 and pro-inflammatory cytokines in mucosa and mesenteric fat tissue of Crohnʼs disease patients

IntroductionCrohn's disease (CD) is a chronic intestinal ailment with a multifactorial etiology, whose incidence has increased during the last three decades. Indeed, CD is associated with the expression of many genes and with complex pathways involving a defect in the innate immunity. Recently, the role of mesenteric fat has been associated with CD etiopathology, since fat hypertrophy is detected near by the affected intestinal area; however, there are few studies on this aspect.