Abstracts
Investigation of a Novel Treatment Alternative for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Roger Yazbeck
PhD student: University of Adelaide, Discipline of Physiology
Supervised through Gastroenterogy, CYWHS
In a healthy person, the normal function of the immune system is to fight harmful bacteria and viruses. In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the immune system responds aggressively, causing the release of harmful substances that ultimately lead to inflammation and uncontrolled cell death within the intestine. Important molecules, called growth factors, can stimulate renewal of cells and therefore, intestinal growth and repair. One powerful and specific growth factor found in the intestine is glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2).
A group of enzymes called dipeptidyl peptidases (DPs) can alter how aggressive the immune response is. DPs also have the ability to switch off GLP-2, preventing GLP-2 from repairing a damaged intestine. Understanding how DPs regulate the immune system in IBD, as well as control the actions of GLP-2, may provide reasons behind the intestinal inflammation and damage seen in IBD. The aim of the current project was to determine whether new drugs, which stop DPs from working, can reduce inflammation, as well as increase the positive actions of GLP-2 in mice with IBD-like disease.
The results of this work have shown that by stopping the actions of DPs we were able to prolong the action of GLP-2 and increase intestinal repair in mice with IBD-like disease, as well as decrease the aggressiveness of the immune response. This work may lead to the development of a new therapeutic treatment strategy for the intestinal damage caused by IBD.
