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Rachel V Thomas

Scientists Finally Have Answers To What Causes Inflammatory Bowel Disease

<span>Inflammatory bowel disease</span> (IBD), which includes Crohn's disease and <span>ulcerative colitis</span>, affects millions of people worldwide. The lifelong condition commonly begins in adolescence or early adulthood and can require repeated hospital treatment, long-term immunosuppressive medication, and, in some cases, surgery.

Despite advances in treatment, many patients cycle through multiple therapies without achieving lasting disease control, impacting their lives and costing healthcare systems millions.

Now, a team of UK researchers from the Universities of Oxford, Newcastle, and Cambridge has identified an important driver of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). 

The findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggest that inflammatory bowel disease is not a single condition but a group of biologically distinct diseases driven by different underlying mechanisms.

"Understanding what drives the <span>inflammation</span> provides a clear explanation for disease in this group of people and opens the door to new treatments that target the autoantibodies themselves or cells that produce those autoantibodies," said Professor <span>Holm Uhlig</span>, a pediatric gastroenterologist and director of the Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford.

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The researchers analyzed more than 4,900 patients with IBD and discovered that:

<ul><li>A substantial subset of patients shows autoimmune responses to one of the guardians of the immune system, interleukin-10 (IL-10), which leads to uncontrolled inflammation.</li><li>This damaging immune response is the mechanism for one of the strongest known genetic risk factors for IBD.</li></ul>

Antibodies that block interleukin-10 (IL-10), a cell-to-cell messenger that normally acts as one of the body's key controls on inflammation, effectively remove the immune system's natural "brake" on inflammation, allowing inflammatory responses to continue unchecked.

The researchers found high levels of anti-IL-10 neutralizing autoantibodies in the blood of about 3.5% of IBD patients, including those with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, but not in healthy individuals. This could equate to 15,000–20,000 people with IBD in the UK carrying these autoantibodies.

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The researchers also found that the presence of these antibodies was strongly linked to carriage of a particular genetic variant known as HLA-DRB1*01:03.

The link between HLA-DRB1*01:03 and a severe form of inflammatory bowel disease was first identified by Oxford researchers 30 years ago.

The new findings show that people carrying this variant are far more likely to develop antibodies that block IL-10, helping explain how the gene contributes to disease.

<h2>What Could This Mean for Patients?</h2>

The researchers say the findings support the development of a blood test to identify this subgroup of patients, helping clinicians move quickly toward more appropriate treatment.

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As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), IBD refers to a group of lifelong diseases that affect your intestines. The main types of IBD are ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Ulcerative colitis affects the large intestine, while Crohn’s disease can inflame any part of the digestive tract. Both are lifelong conditions of unknown cause that trigger abdominal pain, diarrhea and other complications, with no known cure. 

<h3>What Are The Symptoms Of IBD That People Usually Ignore?</h3>

<ul><li>Diarrhea or changes in bowel movements</li><li>Stomach pain</li><li>Fatigue</li><li>Nausea</li><li>Weight loss</li></ul>IBD can also lead to overall health complications, such as

<ul><li>Dehydration</li><li>Increased risk of colon and rectal cancers</li><li>Low red blood cell count (anemia)</li><li>Reduced bone density</li><li>Joint pain</li><li>Skin changes</li><li>Eye irritation</li><li>Delayed or impaired growth in some children.</li></ul>

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Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, affects millions of people worldwide. The lifelong condition commonly begins in adolescence or early adulthood and can require repeated hospital treatment, long-term immunosuppressive medication, and, in some cases, surgery.Despite advances in treatment, many patients cycle through multiple therapies without achieving lasting disease control, impacting their lives and costing healthcare systems millions.Now, a team of UK researchers from the Universities of Oxford, Newcastle, and Cambridge has identified an important driver of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggest that inflammatory bowel disease is not a single condition but a group of biologically distinct diseases driven by different underlying mechanisms."Understanding what drives the inflammation provides a clear explanation for disease in this group of people and opens the door to new treatments that target the autoantibodies themselves or cells that produce those autoantibodies," said Professor Holm Uhlig, a pediatric gastroenterologist and director of the Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford.What Did the Study Find?Also read: Alcohol Study Shelved By Trump Administration Published In Scientific Journal: What Did It Find?The researchers analyzed more than 4,900 patients with IBD and discovered that:A substantial subset of patients shows autoimmune responses to one of the guardians of the immune system, interleukin-10 (IL-10), which leads to uncontrolled inflammation.This damaging immune response is the mechanism for one of the strongest known genetic risk factors for IBD.Antibodies that block interleukin-10 (IL-10), a cell-to-cell messenger that normally acts as one of the body's key controls on inflammation, effectively remove the immune system's natural "brake" on inflammation, allowing inflammatory responses to continue unchecked.The researchers found high levels of anti-IL-10 neutralizing autoantibodies in the blood of about 3.5% of IBD patients, including those with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, but not in healthy individuals. This could equate to 15,000–20,000 people with IBD in the UK carrying these autoantibodies.The Genetic LinkRead More: US FDA Approves First New Sunscreen Ingredient Since the 1990sThe researchers also found that the presence of these antibodies was strongly linked to carriage of a particular genetic variant known as HLA-DRB1*01:03.The link between HLA-DRB1*01:03 and a severe form of inflammatory bowel disease was first identified by Oxford researchers 30 years ago.The new findings show that people carrying this variant are far more likely to develop antibodies that block IL-10, helping explain how the gene contributes to disease.What Could This Mean for Patients? The researchers say the findings support the development of a blood test to identify this subgroup of patients, helping clinicians move quickly toward more appropriate treatment.What Is IBD?As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), IBD refers to a group of lifelong diseases that affect your intestines. The main types of IBD are ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.Ulcerative colitis affects the large intestine, while Crohn’s disease can inflame any part of the digestive tract. Both are lifelong conditions of unknown cause that trigger abdominal pain, diarrhea and other complications, with no known cure. What Are The Symptoms Of IBD That People Usually Ignore?Diarrhea or changes in bowel movementsStomach painFatigueNauseaWeight lossIBD can also lead to overall health complications, such asDehydrationIncreased risk of colon and rectal cancersLow red blood cell count (anemia)Reduced bone densityJoint painSkin changesEye irritationDelayed or impaired growth in some children.

scientists finally have answers to what causes inflammatory bowel disease

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