To address this, we applied Nod2-deficient IL-10<sup>-/-</sup> (Nod2<sup>-/-</sup> IL-10<sup>-/-</sup>) mice and IL-10<sup>-/-</sup> counterparts both with a depleted intestinal microbiota to warrant pathogen-induced enterocolitis.At day 7 following peroral <i>C. jejuni</i> strain 81-176 infection, Nod2 mRNA was down-regulated in the colon of secondary abiotic IL-10<sup>-/-</sup> and wildtype mice.
As changes in colonic mucosal defense are key factors suggested in both Crohn's disease (CD) and HAEC pathogenesis, the aim of the current study was to investigate genetic alterations in the most important susceptibility gene for Crohn's enterocolitis (NOD2) to see whether carriers of polymorphisms within the NOD2 gene are predisposed to the development of HAEC.