Cause of chronic inflammation discovered

This is very interesting. I think it points to the therapeutic targets of medications 10 to 12 years down the pipeline, unless it merges with current probiotic research - then it might only be 6-8 years down the pipeline.

The key phrase is "hopefully over the long-term will help us discover aspects that we can target with new therapies"

They find that a gene that make a protein Bcl-3, is over-expressed in IBD. They find that this protein blocks an immune system signal called p50, which results in too few TReg cells to down-regulate inflammation.

They want to "search for new active agents that will prevent the interaction between Bcl-3 and p50". I assume they could also look for things that would lower expression of Bcl-3 in the GI track. (I assume it is needed elsewhere in the body.)

Whatever they find will need trials to determine it is safe, and that there are no unwanted side effects elsewhere in the body.

There is also a lot of research showing the importance of the gut microbes in IBD, so it would encourage me if there was some link between Bcl-3 and P50 that involved the gut microbes.

Still, interesting stuff

Post Edited (DBwithUC) : 5/1/2017 2:13:04 PM (GMT-6)

I on the other hand find this research extremely encouraging. Not to tout my background in any way, but I work in the biopharma industry and help develop therapies (not for IBD unfortunately in this case)... but I think that a "cure" for IBD will not happen. I am not being pessimistic, just realistic. Taking a round of drugs that permanently put your body back to normal just wont happen, its not like we have a bacterial disease. HOWEVER, I think this can lead to some promising therapies that could be much more effective, safer, and longer lasting for remission. Lets say you go into a bout of inflammation, you pop a weeks round of medication and your body is back to normal, then you are able to stay off the medication, all while the medication provided minimum side effects. Compared to what we have now on the market, that would be a godsend and something I think the scientific community is moving toward... not so much of an actual permanent cure.

I edit my response to say a cure could be possible if we were to alter the way our genes are expressed such that a certain protein or cytokine responsible for increased inflammation is not produced to begin with. It is a more challenging approach but I cannot say it is impossible.

Post Edited (RaleighUC01) : 5/1/2017 2:33:26 PM (GMT-6)