Therapeutic Target Identified for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Updated June 3, 2025
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Berlin⁣ – Scientists at Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin have pinpointed a potential therapeutic target for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), offering a new avenue for treating conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. IBD, characterized ‍by chronic inflammation of the digestive tract, frequently enough emerges during young adulthood, impacting education and career development.

The research, published in Nature Immunology, focuses⁤ on⁣ the interplay ⁢between two immune system messenger substances: interleukin-22, which ‍supports the gut lining, and oncostatin M,⁤ a‍ signaling molecule involved in tissue repair. Researchers⁣ found that these two substances can trigger a‍ chain reaction that amplifies intestinal inflammation.

Crohn’s disease can affect the entire thickness⁢ of the intestinal wall, while ulcerative colitis impacts only the large intestine’s inner lining. Both conditions can cause severe symptoms, ⁣including abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and weight loss, and increase the risk of bowel cancer.

Prof. Ahmed Hegazy, with Charité’s Department of‍ Gastroenterology, Infectiology and‍ Rheumatology, led the research. His team⁢ discovered that interleukin-22 ⁣makes the gut lining more sensitive to ⁣oncostatin M, exacerbating inflammation.

“At the clinic, we mainly see young patients who just beginning their professional lives. So far, we have only been able to slow down the progression of the disease and alleviate symptoms. But not all patients respond well to⁢ existing treatments, so new therapeutic approaches are urgently‍ needed,” Hegazy said.

By blocking the⁢ binding sites for oncostatin M in models, the team observed a reduction in both chronic inflammation and cancer risk. They also found a high number of⁤ oncostatin M receptors near tumors‍ in tissue samples from patients ⁣with colorectal cancer caused by chronic intestinal inflammation.

Prof. Britta Siegmund, director of the Clinic for ⁤Gastroenterology, Infectiology and Rheumatology, emphasized the complexity ⁢of IBD. “Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases are⁣ highly complex and differ ⁢from‍ person to person. That’s exactly what makes them so difficult to treat and predict treatment,” Siegmund said. “Thanks ‍to⁢ the role of oncostatin M and its amplifying interaction with interleukin-22, which we have now identified, we have a clearer understanding of what drives chronic inflammation in some patients. This opens up the door to developing and testing a new therapeutic approach.”

What’s next

A clinical trial is underway to evaluate ⁤an antibody that blocks oncostatin M⁤ receptors, potentially leading to⁣ more targeted treatments for inflammatory bowel ‍disease and improved outcomes for patients.