Researchers have made an important breakthrough in understanding why inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) develops in some people, providing new insights into the biological mechanisms that drive inflammation and opening the door to more targeted treatments in the future.
The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine and led by Professor Holm Uhlig and colleagues at the University of Oxford, identified a specific immune system abnormality in around 3.5% of people with IBD.
The researchers discovered that some people with IBD develop antibodies that mistakenly attack a protein called interleukin-10 (IL-10). IL-10 plays a vital role in controlling inflammation and helping the immune system switch off inflammatory responses when they are no longer needed. When these antibodies block IL-10, the body's natural ability to regulate inflammation is reduced, potentially contributing to the development and persistence of IBD.
The study also helps explain a long-standing genetic mystery. Researchers found a strong link between these anti-IL-10 antibodies and a genetic variant known as HLA-DRB1*01:03, which has been recognised for many years as one of the strongest genetic risk factors for IBD. Until now, scientists did not fully understand how this genetic variant increased a person's risk of developing the condition.
Together, these findings provide evidence that, for some people, IBD may be driven by a very specific biological pathway. This supports the growing understanding that IBD is not a single disease but a collection of related conditions with different underlying causes.
CICRA is proud to have supported and funded the Paediatric IBD (PIBD) BioResource project under the leadership of Professor Holm Uhlig since 2020. The publication of this work in one of the world's leading medical journals represents a significant milestone and demonstrates the value of investing in high-quality paediatric IBD research.
While these findings will not immediately change treatment for most children and young people with IBD, they are an important step towards more personalised approaches to diagnosis and treatment. By understanding the specific biological mechanisms driving disease in different groups of patients, researchers hope to develop more targeted therapies that improve outcomes and reduce the need for trial-and-error treatment approaches.
CICRA remains committed to supporting pioneering research that improves understanding, treatment and outcomes for children and young people living with IBD.