Ulcerative colitis is a common form of inflammatory bowel disease. For many people with the condition, widely prescribed anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive drugs do not remain effective for long, and up to 15% of patients will need surgery to remove all or part of the colon within 20 years of diagnosis. This animation explores how insights into the immunobiology of ulcerative colitis are helping researchers to develop innovative treatments.
And is characterised by inflammation of the colon and the rectum. and no longer provide an effective barrier between the inner cavity this causes inflammation of the mucosa and such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue and rectal bleeding. but they come with side effects and aren’t long-lasting for many patients. to remove some or all of the colon within 20 years
Of diagnosis. are helping scientists develop new effective treatments. by bolstering the physical integrity of the colon’s epithelium. some of these treatments work by exploiting a human protein called il-22 activating it and thereby initiating healing researchers are also trying to use a plant product called indigo naturalis release il-22, again healing the epithelial
Barrier. where they might become activated to invoke an inflammatory response. a new antibody drug that works this way stops into the mucosa and also blocks their binding to the epithelium. another group of drugs uses a totally different approach, for example, one new drug tampers with the cellular machinery inside t cells in a pivotal phase three trial, this drug and
Has now been approved for the treatment of active ulcerative colitis. one way of doing this is to use probiotic bacteria streams. has been shown to quell inflammation and restore normal intestinal function. just as effectively as widely used anti-inflammatory drugs. at least one recent study on multi-donor stool transplantation has shown promising results however,
The hope is that more patients will be free of symptoms for longer and won’t go on to need aggressive surgery.
Transcribed from video
Ulcerative colitis: Fresh approaches to taming inflammation By nature video
