Introductory Words About TL1A/DR3.

TL1A, a protein member of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily 15 (TNFSF15), signaling through its receptor DR3, has been defined as a master regulatory cytokine that plays a key role in human intestinal inflammation. Recent studies have also defined a critical role for TL1A in the pathogenesis of mouse experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), models of allergic lung inflammation and human rheumatoid arthritis. The initial discovery of TL1A has given way to subsequent genetic, human, and animal investigation at the bench and will reach the bedside in the form of a clinical trial in 2011–2012. Furthermore, TNFSF15 and TL1A fit superbly into the personalized medicine paradigm, in which the combination of genetic, biologic, and micro-environmental information may well combine to inform the design of a therapeutic for the subgroup of Crohn΄s disease patients that will be uniquely likely to benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]