Researchers from the University of Oxford, Newcastle University and the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have identified a hidden cause of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), infohub.kz reports. The results of years of scientific work have been published in the prestigious medical journal The New England Journal of Medicine.
The large-scale study involved more than 4,900 patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The specialists found that approximately 3.5% of patients produce autoantibodies that neutralize interleukin-10 (IL-10). This protein is a key natural regulator of the immune system that curbs excessive inflammatory responses. When antibodies block interleukin's function, the body loses its natural protection, causing inflammation in the digestive tract to become uncontrolled and chronic.
In addition, the authors solved a genetic puzzle dating back thirty years. Three decades ago, geneticists linked severe forms of gastrointestinal pathologies to a mutation in the HLA-DRB1*01:03 gene, but the molecular mechanism remained unknown. The new data proved that carriers of this variant are prone to producing dangerous autoantibodies against IL-10.
According to one of the lead authors, Professor Holm Uhlig, this discovery provides a clear understanding of the biological causes of the disease in a specific group of patients. The development of a simple blood test will allow doctors to quickly identify such patients and select targeted personalized treatment. Clinical immunologist Dr. Rainer Doffinger noted that targeted therapy against pathogenic antibodies will save thousands of people from constant hospitalizations, major surgery and expensive courses of medication.