RORγt-expressing dendritic cells are functionally versatile and evolutionarily conserved antigen-presenting cells.

Conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) are potent antigen-presenting cells (APCs) that integrate signals from their environment allowing them to direct situation-adapted immunity. Thereby they harbor great potential for being targeted in vaccination, autoimmunity, and cancer. Here, we use fate mapping, functional analyses, and comparative cross-species transcriptomics to show that RORγt DCs are a conserved, functionally versatile, and transcriptionally distinct type of DCs.

[New treatment targets for inflammatory bowel disease?].

The classic therapeutic goals of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are, on the one hand, clinical remission and, on the other, the prevention of disease progression. The introduction of additional "targets" such as normalization of laboratory inflammation values, endoscopic and, possibly, histological mucosal healing and transmural parameters (ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography) is intended to improve prognosis. A good response to therapy is usually (also) evident from these targets, although the obligatory change in medication in order to improve the prognosis if the additional treatment goals are not achieved is not evidence-based.

To STRIDE or not to STRIDE: a critique of "treat to target" in ulcerative colitis.

Introduction: The STRIDE consensus intends to complement the clinical endpoint with an endoscopic endpoint of mucosal healing and others as treatment targets in ulcerative colitis. If these targets are not reached, STRIDE requires dose or timing adjustments or switching the medication. This narrative review provides a critique of this concept.

Dysbiosis in inflammatory bowel diseases: egg, not chicken.

There is agreement that inflammatory bowel diseases are, both in terms of species composition and function, associated with an altered intestinal microbiome. This is usually described by the term "dysbiosis," but this is a vague definition lacking quantitative precision. In this brief narrative review, the evidence concerning the primary or secondary role of this dysbiotic state is critically evaluated.