Bacterial DNA in serum has been found to associate with increased antimicrobial peptide (β-defensin 2, cathelecidin LL-37) and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in CD patients in a concentration-dependent manner.54 In addition, the increased proinflammatory activity in the presence of bacterial DNA translocation is particularly pronounced in CD patients carrying mutated variants of NOD2/CARD15. The gene discussed is NOD2; the disease is Cowden disease.