Genetic variations that prevent beneficial gut bacteria from working may lead to Crohn's disease

A major type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may be caused in part by genetic variants that prevent beneficial bacteria in the gut from doing their job, according to a new study published today in the journal Science.

The multicenter study from several research institutions, including

"Bacteria historically have been regarded as an enemy of the body, but more recently we have been identifying bacterial types that seem to be beneficial to health, especially in the case of IBD," said

Investigators found that the beneficial effects of Bacteroides fragilis bacterium, one of billions of microscopic organisms that normally inhabit the human gastrointestinal system, were negatively impacted by variations in the ATG16L1 gene.

These genetic variations increase the risk of developing Crohn's disease, one of the two common forms of IBD. As a result, the bacteria were prevented from carrying out one of their critical functions: suppressing inflammation of the intestinal lining.

"This study is very important because it identifies a completely novel mechanism through which these genes may lead to an increased risk of developing Crohn's disease," said McGovern, director of the Precision Medicine Initiative at Cedars-Sinai.

IBD is a difficult disease to treat and affects more than 1.6 million people in the U.S.

Using mouse models and human specimens, this study focused on Crohn's disease. Patients with this condition suffer from inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, often resulting in severe abdominal pain and weight loss as well as symptoms outside the gut, including arthritis.

"Given the low percentage of IBD patients who respond to drugs directed at the immune system, these results could point the way to improving treatment by identifying patients who might best respond to manipulation of bacteria in their digestive tract," said study co-author

The findings have implications for treating Crohn's disease as well as other immune disorders that share similar genetic variations.

"This study significantly advances the knowledge base for physicians treating patients with Crohn's disease. It also exemplifies the multidisciplinary endeavors under way at Cedars-Sinai to translate basic science discoveries to meaningful help for patients enduring the various challenges of inflammatory bowel disease," said

Current therapies for IBD patients lead to remission in only about 30 percent of cases. Cedars-Sinai is at the forefront of research to pinpoint the role of genetics in the health of the digestive tract. This work is a critical step in developing specific therapies that can provide more effective and individualized treatments for patients.