CMGH study offers insight into future interventions for Crohn's disease, chronic pancreatitis

Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology (CMGH) is committed to publishing impactful digestive biology research covering a broad spectrum of themes in GI, hepatology and pancreatology. We wanted to share two new CMGH articles, which both offer important insight into future interventions for chronic conditions.

Functional Characterization of Inflammatory Bowel Disease -- Associated Gut Dysbiosis in Gnotobiotic Mice

By Hiroko Nagao-Kitamoto, et al.

http://www.cmghjournal.org/article/S2352-345X(16)30001-7/abstract [Open-access]

Changes in gut microbial populations are seen in IBD, but it is not clear if these changes are an effect of disease or participate in causing disease. This new CMGH study suggests that the microbial changes are a contributing factor to disease development.

This is one of the first studies to analyze the effects of transplanting disease-associated human intestinal microbial populations into healthy recipients. The data suggest that targeted interventions to change gut microbial populations may be helpful in preventing or treating Crohn's disease.

Inhibitors of RGD-Binding Integrins Reduce Development of Pancreatic Fibrosis in Mice

By Barbara Ulmasov, et al.

http://www.cmghjournal.org/article/S2352-345X(16)30008-X/abstract [Open-access]

Chronic pancreatitis is a long-term inflammation of the pancreas that can lead to fibrosis (scar tissue formation); patients develop malnutrition with diarrhea, significant pain and ultimately diabetes. This new CMGH paper used a mouse model of chronic pancreatitis to test a small molecule as a potential therapy. The investigators found that damage to the pancreas and fibrosis decreased after administration of the drug.

There are few therapies available for chronic pancreatitis, and this work is noteworthy in identifying a new drug that could be developed for therapeutic use in humans.