June 6th 2024.
In the UK, there are approximately half a million people who are affected by inflammatory bowel disease. For a long time, the cause of this disease has been a mystery. However, researchers have finally made a major breakthrough that could lead to treatment with existing drugs.
This discovery has been hailed as a significant step forward in the field. The researchers have found a pattern in our DNA that is present in 95% of people with inflammatory bowel disease. This term encompasses various conditions such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, which are characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.
According to data from Crohn's & Colitis UK, around half a million people in the UK are currently living with these conditions. This equates to about 1 in every 123 people, making the UK the country with the second-highest rate of inflammatory bowel disease in the world, right after the US.
The team of researchers, from the Francis Crick Institute and University College London, discovered that a particular part of our DNA can cause excessive inflammation of the bowels when it goes wrong. This gene controls white blood cells called macrophages, which release chemicals known as cytokines in response to an infection. However, in people with inflammatory bowel disease, these macrophages release an excessive amount of cytokines, leading to massive inflammation in the intestines.
In 2018, Lauren Golightly was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. She shared her experience with BBC, saying, "Crohn's has had a huge impact on my life. Since my diagnosis, I have faced many challenges, including hospital admissions, trying different medications, and even having surgery to have a temporary stoma bag." She also mentions the uncertainty and difficulties that come with living with IBD.
But this breakthrough has given her and many others hope. The team of researchers discovered that certain existing medications, such as those used for cancer treatment, can reverse the effects of this genetic mutation in laboratory experiments. However, as these medications can have side effects on other organs, the researchers are now working on a way to deliver them directly to the immune cells.
Aside from Lauren, there are hundreds of thousands of people living with IBD who are hopeful that this breakthrough could make a real difference in their lives. The main symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease include diarrhea that lasts longer than four weeks, stomach pain, blood or mucus in the stool, bleeding from the rectum, fatigue, and unintentional weight loss.
Dr. James Lee, a researcher from the Francis Crick Institute, shared, "Using genetics as a starting point, we have uncovered a pathway that plays a major role in IBD and other inflammatory diseases. What's even more exciting is that we have found a way to target this pathway therapeutically, and we are now working on ensuring its safety and effectiveness for future treatment."
Co-first author and PhD student Christina Stankey also commented, "IBD and other autoimmune conditions are complex, with multiple genetic and environmental factors at play. Therefore, finding a central pathway and showing how it can be switched off using an existing drug is a significant step forward."
The research, which was published in Nature, provides much-needed hope for those living with IBD. It shows that with continued research and development, there is a possibility for more effective treatment options in the future.
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