Researchers make breakthrough in fight against Crohn’s disease
Scientists at NUI Maynooth have discovered what they describe as a crucial role for protein in controlling unwanted inflammation in the intestine. Paul Moynagh, who led the research team, said the identification of the protein Pellino3 may protect against the development of the incurable Crohn’s disease.
“My hope is that we can build on these findings and use Pellino3 as a new diagnostic for Crohn’s disease and as a target for new drug discovery,” said Prof Moynagh.
“Our aim at NUI Maynooth is to progress this research even further and we look forward to further advancements in the area of immunology in years to come.”
Prof Moynagh, head of the department of biology and director of the university’s institute of immunology, said the research is a significant breakthrough.
The team found that levels of Pellino3 are dramatically reduced in Crohn’s disease patients.
It will now use the protein as a basis for new diagnostic for Crohn’s and as a target in designing drugs to treat the illness.
More than 2m people in Europe suffer from inflammatory bowel disease.
Inflammation is the body’s response to disease-causing micro-organisms, which involves the movement of white blood cells from vessels in the infected tissue, where invading micro-organisms are destroyed. This can result in chronic inflammatory diseases, with the symptoms being dependent on the inflammation area.
When chronic inflammation occurs in the intestine, this can lead to inflammatory bowel diseases — Crohn’s is a particularly debilitating form of the disease.
Symptoms include abdominal pain and diarrhoea. Patients are also at increased risk of developing gallstones.
The findings of the research, which had support from collaborators in Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork, have been accepted and published in the Nature Immunology journal.
NUI Maynooth president Philip Nolan said: “Immunology is an area of strength for Ireland and developments such as this will cement our position as one of the world’s leading nations in this field.”
