Why does the immune system cause inflammation in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis? And what do the gut microbiome, intestinal lining, and genetics have to do with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)?

In this episode of the Gastro Girl Podcast, host Jacqueline Gaulin talks with gastroenterologist and IBD expert Dr. Colleen Kelly about the important connection between the gut and immune system in IBD.

Dr. Kelly explains how Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are immune-mediated diseases, why the immune system becomes involved in intestinal inflammation, and how interactions among the immune system, gut lining, genetics, and the trillions of microorganisms that make up the gut microbiome may contribute to IBD.

You'll learn:

• How the immune system and digestive tract normally work together

• What happens to the immune response in IBD

• Why inflammation develops in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

• How the intestinal barrier, or gut lining, fits into the picture

• What scientists understand about the gut microbiome and IBD

• Why IBD involves much more than digestive symptoms

• How understanding the biology of IBD can help you have more informed conversations with your healthcare team

Whether you've recently been diagnosed with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, are living with IBD, or are supporting someone who is, this patient-focused conversation provides an accessible foundation for understanding what is happening inside the body and why it matters for managing IBD.

This educational initiative is sponsored by Merck.