Circadian clock at the interface of mucosal immunity, gut microbiota and epithelial barrier in inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is a group of chronic relapsing disorders caused by dysregulated mucosal immunity, altered gut microbiota, and impaired epithelial barrier function. There is increasing evidence linking circadian disruptions, such as shift work, jet lag, sleep loss, light misalignment, and irregular eating patterns, to the risk of IBD and associated symptoms and inflammatory activity. The intestinal circadian system is coord