Papers of the Week

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic debilitating condition, hallmarked by persistent inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Despite recent advances in clinical treatments, the aetiology of IBD is unknown and a large proportion of patients are refractory to pharmacotherapy. Understanding IBD immunopathogenesis is crucial to discern the cause of IBD and optimise treatments. Mas-related G protein-coupled receptors (Mrgprs) are a family of approximately 50 G protein-coupled receptors that were first identified over 20 years ago. Originally known for their expression in skin nociceptors and a role in transmitting the sensation of itch in the periphery, new reports have described the presence of Mrgprs in the gastrointestinal tract. In this review, we consider the impact of these findings and assess the evidence that suggests Mrgprs may be involved in the disrupted homeostatic processes that contribute to gastrointestinal disorders and IBD.