IBD-CHARACTER

Inflammatory Bowel Disease CHARACTERization by a multi-modal integrated biomarker study

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'We propose a collaborative effort to advance our understanding of the inflammatory bowel diseases Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease and to increase diagnostic precision in detection of the diseases in their early manifestation. We will utilize the largest collection of samples so far assembled of treatment naïve patients recently diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, a total of 400 patients. The material will be extensively analyzed for DNA methylation status, RNA transcription profile, protein markers and gut microbial content in order to create a molecular snapshot of IBD in its early manifestation. As control group, material from a total of 200 recently by endoscopy diagnosed non-inflammatory but symptomatic patients (symptomatic non-IBD) as well as 200 healthy, age-matched, non-smoking, controls without any known first relatives diagnosed with IBD, will be collected and used. All patients will be diagnosed according to standardized diagnostic criteria’s, characterized using current known clinical markers as well as genotyped for known susceptibility loci. This large, well characterized cohort in conjunction with our proposed massive molecular profiling will yield a list of biomarkers indicative for onset of the disease. Based on the finding within the project assays capable of analyzing panels of relevant protein markers and methods for rapid profiling of gut microbial content relevant for IBD will be developed by participating SME:s, offering large commercial potential. The proposed biomarkers will form a solid ground for development of improved diagnostic assays and be a rich source to mine for novel therapeutic targets.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are autoimmune conditions affecting the digestive system. These diseases are incurable and early detection could vastly improve patient outcomes.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

In Europe alone, over 2 million people suffer from some form of IBD and the numbers are steadily rising. Despite scientific advances, little is known about IBD aetiology and diagnosis is therefore difficult. Billions of euros in direct health care costs are attributed to IBDs annually.

IBD patients suffer from inflammation in their digestive system organs. Besides the painful abdominal cramps, such patients suffer from recurring diarrhoea, anaemia and extreme tiredness. Treatment involves the use of immunosuppressants and anti-inflammatories. Patients unresponsive to such treatment often need to undergo surgery to remove or repair damaged tissue.

EU-funded researchers of the 'Inflammatory bowel disease characterization by a multi-modal integrated biomarker study' (http://www.ibdcharacter.eu (IBD-CHARACTER)) project are working to identify biomarkers for IBD. This multidisciplinary consortium will employ genomics, epigenomics, proteomics and metagenomics techniques to develop a comprehensive molecular profile of IBD.

Already, 240 patients with onset of IBD and no prior treatment exposure have been recruited for this study. Researchers have identified over 160 IBD-associated loci, and comparison of DNA methylation profiles of IBD and non-IBD patients is ongoing.

Genome-wide association studies helped identify susceptibility genes for IBD. Project members will compare gut microbial content as well as the genomic, proteomic and metagenomic profiles of IBD and non-IBD patients. This should provide insight into IBD pathogenesis and yield novel biomarkers for early detection, risk stratification and IBD treatment response assessment.

Current IBD diagnostic tests are highly invasive with patients undergoing a colonoscopy and a biopsy. Project outcomes should aid in the development of biomarker panels for non-invasively detecting IBD. Comprehensive molecular profiling should also reveal potential therapeutic targets that target the disease rather than just alleviate painful symptoms. This should improve the quality of life of IBD patients.