Bacterial-metal interactions: The potential role of aluminum and other trace elements in the etiology of Crohn's disease

In sum, we propose that the iron-related trace element uptake and/or regulatory system of either the putative mycobacteria or of the human host, or both, are involved in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease. We further propose that the iron-uptake/regulatory system allows access to mycobacteria of metal ions other than iron (especially aluminum) resulting in an alteration in the organism's virulence and/or the host's ability to contain it. Once the aluminum-loaded organism is incorporated into the host, aluminum enhances the organism's ability to induce a prominent granulomatous immune response, thus giving rise to the pathologic features of the disease.