MEP1A and colitis: Overlapping of acute colitis- and CAC-related genes demonstrated that 22 of the core genes, playing a regulatory role in acute inflammation, were involved in CAC pathogenesis (Figure 1E), including immune genes (Ifitm1, Ifitm3, Il1a, Lcn2, S100a9, Saa3, Tnf), genes encoding protease inhibitors (Serpina3n, Slpi, Wfdc18), ion transporters (Slc26a2, Slc26a3, Trpm6), ECM remodeling proteins (Mmp10, Timp1, Mep1a), signal transduction components (Igfbp4, Lrg1) and regulators of cell motility (Capg), fatty acid homeostasis (Hao2), host-microbiota interplay (Sult1a1), and heme metabolism (Hp).