March 8, 2017.
American researchers have just made a giant leap in research into Crohn’s disease, a syndrome which causes inflammation of the intestines and which affects around 100,000 people in France.
The SP140 enzyme linked to the development of Crohn’s disease
Crohn’s disease remains a mystery to medicine to this day. The origin of this syndrome, which is characterized by chronic inflammation of the digestive tract most commonly affecting the intestines and causing severe abdominal pain, diarrhea and rectal bleeding in those who have it, has never been determined, but American researchers have just made a discovery that will undoubtedly advance research.
These scientists from Massachusetts General Hospital have indeed announced that they have identified that an enzyme is involved in the development of the disease. Called SP140, it is known to play a regulatory role in the proper functioning of the intestinal microbiota.. But in people who have Crohn’s disease, this enzyme no longer works properly and therefore causes inflammation of the intestines.
Researchers continue their study, hoping to find a cure
If the SP140 enzyme has just been identified as being, at least in part, responsible for the disorder that causes the symptoms of Crohn’s disease, the studies initiated by these researchers are still in their infancy. The latter have already stated that they will take a closer look at its functioning, with the aim of finding a new form of treatment against the disease.
According to health insurance figures, Crohn’s disease affects about one in a thousand people in France. Each year, five new cases per 100,000 inhabitants are diagnosed. This painful and debilitating disease can occur at any age, before 15 years old in 10% of cases and most of the time between 20 and 30 years old.
Sybille Latour
Read also: Crohn’s disease, what dietary recommendations?
Source: http://immunology.sciencemag.org/content/2/9/eaag3160
