The influence of the immune system on gastrointestinal (GI) function has long been
recognized. The work has focused mainly on the effect of overt inflammation on GI motility.
Studies in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have shown that colonic
inflammation reduces basal contractile activity in the distal colon, which, under physiologic
conditions, slows fecal stream [1]. Other studies have reported that intestinal inflammation
alters responsiveness of the colonic motor system to a meal [2] and to pharmacologic …