Scientists in the UK have discovered a major cause of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) which is linked to our DNA.
A weak spot in the DNA is present in 95% of people with the disease, which can affect immune cells which then leads to excessive inflammation in the bowels.
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are the most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease, which affect around half a million people in the UK.
BBC News reports that the team at Francis Crick Institute and University College London found drugs that already exist seem to reverse the disease in laboratory experiments and are now aiming for human trials.
What is causing IBD in our DNA?
IBD is caused by white blood cells called macrophages which flood the linings of the intestines where they release chemicals – called cytokines – that lead to massive inflammation.
Inflammation is part of the body’s normal response to infection, but too much for too long can have devastating health consequences.
The researchers found a section of DNA which is the macrophage’s “master regulator” of inflammation.
BBC News adds: "The gene controls the suite of inflammatory chemicals the macrophages release, and some people are born with a version that make their body prone to responding excessively."
@uktoday_ Are there benefits to drinking red wine? I happily found out. 🍷 #uknews #redwine #winetimе #uknewsheadlines ♬ original sound - UKToday 🇬🇧 Newsquest
Dr James Lee, from the Francis Crick Institute, explained: “This is undoubtedly one of the central pathways that goes wrong for people to get inflammatory bowel disease.
“It is the process by which one of the most important cells that causes inflammatory bowel disease goes wrong.”
The researchers also found that drugs that are already approved for other conditions such as cancer were able to calm this excessive inflammation.
However, they need to find a way of targeting just the macrophages so they do not cause side effects throughout the body so they hope to start clinical trials within five years.
Recommended reading:
- What is lymphoma and what are its symptoms to look out for?
- What are the symptoms of neck cancer you need to watch out for?
- Skin cancer symptoms, causes and how to avoid getting it
Inflammatory Bowl Disease symptoms
According to the NHS website, symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease can include:
- diarrhoea that lasts longer than 4 weeks
- tummy pain
- blood or mucus (clear slime) in your poo
- bleeding from your bottom
- feeling tired all the time
- losing weight without trying
Treatments to ease the symptoms of IBD include using steroids and other medicines or having surgery to remove part of your bowel if symptoms are severe.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel