New therapeutic approach: Hope for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases!

New therapeutic approach: Hope for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases!

Wieden, Österreich - The Medical University of Vienna today announces a gratifying progress in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (CED). In a recent study, an interdisciplinary research team examined how the targeted change in protein Filamin A can contribute to reducing inflammation in the intestine. The research work is published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine and could offer a new approach in therapy, especially for diseases such as ulcerative colitis.

FILAMIN A plays a crucial role in the processes of immune cells and its modified form can be detected in the healthy intestine, but decreases in acute inflammatory states. According to the results of this study, the selective RNA-induced change in Filamin A shows a protective effect, which has led to less tissue damage and milder clinical picture in mouse models for ulcerative colitis. These positive influences are not only explained by differences in the intestinal flora, but by changing reaction patterns of the immune cells, such as neutrophils and macrophages, which can be achieved by the controlled RNA editation.

a health policy problem child

More and more people suffer from CED, which is not only in Austria, but also in many other countries, including Germany, an important health policy problem. The prevalence of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis has increased steadily and over 3.5 million people are affected in North America and Europe alone. The causes are complex and range from genetic factors to environmental influences on the microbiome and the barrier function of the intestinal mucosa. In Germany, the prevalence of Crohn's disease is 100-200 per 100,000 inhabitants, while ulcerative colitis affects 160-250 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Especially with ulcerative colitis, which is often treated and often difficult to treat, is used for proven therapy approaches such as 5-aminosalicylic acid preparations. Biologics such as Infliximab and Adaliumumab are used for heavier courses. Despite these therapy options, a significant part of the patient remains therapy refractory, which means that they often have to be treated surgically.

important knowledge for the future

The study on the RNA editing of Filamin A shows that it is not just the conventional therapy approaches. The positive influence of the modified form of protein could lead to the development of new treatment methods in the future. In addition to the significance of the results in the mouse model, further studies are necessary to confirm the knowledge and possibly pave the way for innovative therapies.

The research team will also continue to examine aspects of the immune response and hopes to further deepen the understanding of CED. In the long term, this could lead to an approach that not only relieves the symptoms, but also combats the causes of the disease. With this study, a new wind will blow into the therapy of inflammatory intestinal diseases that open both the patient: inside and the treating doctor: inside new perspectives.

For further information about the study, a look at the articles by medi , pubMed and the detailed analysis at pmc .