Fig. 8

Proposed mechanism of demethylated Zbtb7b affecting the pathogenesis of UC by regulating intestinal immunity. Hypo-methylation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of UC, and Zbtb7b was demethylated and up-regulated in the colonic tissues of UC patients. Furthermore, demethylated Zbtb7b activated the maturation of CD4⁺T cells and repressed the differentiation of DP CD4⁺CD8⁺ T cells, resulting in the production of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-17, and IFN-γ) and colonic inflammation in UC