soupdragon69
ele mental leprechaun
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Thought I would post this article from the NACC (National Association for Colitis and Crohns) here in the UK for those of you that ponder. It makes interesting reading I think. Cathryn Edwards mentioned is the new medical editor for the NACC.
The article itself is: Microbial Mannan Inhibits Bacterial Killing by Macrophages: A possible Pathogenic Mechanism for Crohn's Disease. Gastroenterology. November 2007, Vol 133, 5, 1487-1498.
The journal Gastroenterology has published new research into the cause of Crohn's Disease in which researchers report that a substance called Mannan may inhibit the immune system by disabling the macrophages - a type of white blood cell - that kill harmful bacteria.
The researchers from University of Liverpool, funded by the Medical Research Council, suggest this might be a possible pathogenic mechanism for Crohn's Disease.
Richard Driscoll, Director of NACC comments: "The study suggests there is a defect in one part of the body's immune system, the macrophages, that might then lead on to Crohn's Disease. The suggestion links in with some exciting progress recently in genetics research into Crohn's Disease, which is pointing strongly to a problem with the handling of bacteria or bacterial products in the gut.
"Research into which bacteria and why has to be a strong focus for futrue research into Crohn's Disease, which makes this paper so interesting. However, it is too early in the research to say whether this will lead to successful new treatments".
Professor Jon Rhodes, from the University's Schoold of Clinical Sciences who led the team said: "Mycobacterium Paratuberculosis has been found within Crohn's Disease tissue BUT there has been much controversy concerning its role in the disease.
"We have now shown that these Mycobacteria release a complex molecule containing a sugar called mannose. This molecule prevents macrophages from killing internalised E.Coli".
Scientistes have previously shown that people with Crohn's Disease have increased numbers of a "sticky" type of E. Coli and weakened the ability to fight off intestinal bacteria. The suppressive effect of the Mycobacterial molecule on this type of white blood cell suggests it is a likely mechanism for weakening the body's defence against the bacteria.
Professor Rhodes added: " We also found that this bacterium is a likely trigger for a circulating antibody (ASCA) that is found in about two thirds of patients with Crohn's Disease, suggesting that these people may have been infected by the Mycobacterium".
The team is beginning clinical trails to assess whether an antibiotic combination can be used to target the bacteria contained in white blood cells as a possible treatment for Crohn's Disease.
Cathryn Edwards comments: "The study itself is high quality research and suggests that another possible mechanism of disease is at play in Crohn's.
"It also gives possible new insights (these are still hypotheses) into the old arguments about whether or not Mycobacterium Avium Paratuberculosis (MAP) has a causal link with Crohn's Disease.
"The real issue is not whether there is an association between Crohn's Disease tissue and DNA (genetic material) from MAP: studies have demonstrated this already. The real issue is whether or not this link is not just a link but a cause of the disease. "Making the step between MAP being linked with CD to saying that it is the cause of CD is a huge scientific leap, and at present there is not sufficient evidence for this. Indeed, there are many arguments against MAP being a causal factor for Crohn's.
"We do know however that some of the important genes for CD may make it more likely that the body has a defetive response to organisms like MAP".
"Professor Rhodes' study may have found a link (the mannan molecule) between the observations about MAP and the mechanism by which the body's defences are weakened in CD. As ever in medicine we wait with great interest for further studies.
"There are no immediate treatment conclusions to be made from this study. However, in a study published last year, antibiotics against mycobacteria combined with prenisolone were compared to prednisolone alone in the treatment of patients with CD. This study showed only a short lived benefit for those CD patients receiving the combined antibiotic and steroid treatment".
I thought this was an interesting piece of research but I reckon we all could have told them about the combo with pred and antibiotics only works short term eh?
The article itself is: Microbial Mannan Inhibits Bacterial Killing by Macrophages: A possible Pathogenic Mechanism for Crohn's Disease. Gastroenterology. November 2007, Vol 133, 5, 1487-1498.
The journal Gastroenterology has published new research into the cause of Crohn's Disease in which researchers report that a substance called Mannan may inhibit the immune system by disabling the macrophages - a type of white blood cell - that kill harmful bacteria.
The researchers from University of Liverpool, funded by the Medical Research Council, suggest this might be a possible pathogenic mechanism for Crohn's Disease.
Richard Driscoll, Director of NACC comments: "The study suggests there is a defect in one part of the body's immune system, the macrophages, that might then lead on to Crohn's Disease. The suggestion links in with some exciting progress recently in genetics research into Crohn's Disease, which is pointing strongly to a problem with the handling of bacteria or bacterial products in the gut.
"Research into which bacteria and why has to be a strong focus for futrue research into Crohn's Disease, which makes this paper so interesting. However, it is too early in the research to say whether this will lead to successful new treatments".
Professor Jon Rhodes, from the University's Schoold of Clinical Sciences who led the team said: "Mycobacterium Paratuberculosis has been found within Crohn's Disease tissue BUT there has been much controversy concerning its role in the disease.
"We have now shown that these Mycobacteria release a complex molecule containing a sugar called mannose. This molecule prevents macrophages from killing internalised E.Coli".
Scientistes have previously shown that people with Crohn's Disease have increased numbers of a "sticky" type of E. Coli and weakened the ability to fight off intestinal bacteria. The suppressive effect of the Mycobacterial molecule on this type of white blood cell suggests it is a likely mechanism for weakening the body's defence against the bacteria.
Professor Rhodes added: " We also found that this bacterium is a likely trigger for a circulating antibody (ASCA) that is found in about two thirds of patients with Crohn's Disease, suggesting that these people may have been infected by the Mycobacterium".
The team is beginning clinical trails to assess whether an antibiotic combination can be used to target the bacteria contained in white blood cells as a possible treatment for Crohn's Disease.
Cathryn Edwards comments: "The study itself is high quality research and suggests that another possible mechanism of disease is at play in Crohn's.
"It also gives possible new insights (these are still hypotheses) into the old arguments about whether or not Mycobacterium Avium Paratuberculosis (MAP) has a causal link with Crohn's Disease.
"The real issue is not whether there is an association between Crohn's Disease tissue and DNA (genetic material) from MAP: studies have demonstrated this already. The real issue is whether or not this link is not just a link but a cause of the disease. "Making the step between MAP being linked with CD to saying that it is the cause of CD is a huge scientific leap, and at present there is not sufficient evidence for this. Indeed, there are many arguments against MAP being a causal factor for Crohn's.
"We do know however that some of the important genes for CD may make it more likely that the body has a defetive response to organisms like MAP".
"Professor Rhodes' study may have found a link (the mannan molecule) between the observations about MAP and the mechanism by which the body's defences are weakened in CD. As ever in medicine we wait with great interest for further studies.
"There are no immediate treatment conclusions to be made from this study. However, in a study published last year, antibiotics against mycobacteria combined with prenisolone were compared to prednisolone alone in the treatment of patients with CD. This study showed only a short lived benefit for those CD patients receiving the combined antibiotic and steroid treatment".
I thought this was an interesting piece of research but I reckon we all could have told them about the combo with pred and antibiotics only works short term eh?