In our perfusion model and in the cellular test systems, the administration of a pro-inflammatory cytokine mix (10 ng/ml TNF-α, 10 ng/ml IFN-γ, 5 ng/ml IL-1β) through the mesenteric artery caused a significant up-regulation of inflammatory marker genes, similar to those seen in IBD (Sanchez-Muñoz et al., 2008; Strober and Fuss, 2011; Christophi et al., 2012), so that a realistic induction and treatment of inflammation could be simulated. Here, TNF is linked to inflammatory bowel disease.