Given the close steric and functional connectivity between mitochondria and ER, the presence of mitochondrial dysfunction and ER stress in IBD does not come as a surprise, with increased CHOP levels associated with the unfolded protein responses in both mitochondria and ER (Horibe and Hoogenraad, 2007; Rath et al., 2012). This evidence concerns the gene DDIT3 and inflammatory bowel disease.