In a significant medical advancement, researchers have identified a major cause of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and existing drugs that could treat the condition, reports The Guardian. Described as a “massive step forward,” this breakthrough sheds new light on the autoimmune diseases Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which affect about 5% of the global population.
The role of macrophages
IBD involves the immune system’s white blood cells, called macrophages, which flood the intestines and release chemicals causing severe inflammation. While inflammation is a natural response to infection, prolonged inflammation can have devastating health effects.
Discovering the genetic trigger
Researchers have found a specific part of DNA, active only in certain immune cells, that triggers inflammation in the bowels. This weak spot in human DNA, present in 95% of people with IBD, increases protein production in immune cells, leading to inflammation.
Dr. James Lee, from the Francis Crick Institute in London, stated, “What we have found is one of the very central pathways that goes wrong when people get inflammatory bowel disease and this has been something of a holy grail.”
Promising treatment prospects
The team has identified existing drugs that appear to reverse the disease in laboratory experiments and plans to begin human trials soon. These drugs will need to be precisely calibrated to treat IBD without compromising the immune system’s ability to fight infections.
Ruth Wakeman from Crohn’s and Colitis UK commented, “This research is a really exciting step towards the possibility of a world free from Crohn’s and colitis.”
The goal is to start clinical trials within five years, potentially transforming the treatment landscape for IBD patients.