Signs of future inflammatory bowel disease can be seen already in newborns
Olle Grännö and Jonas Halfvarson.
Researchers at Örebro University have found changes in the blood of newborns who later develop inflammatory bowel disease, IBD. The results show that the very first period of life plays an important role.
“We were surprised that we could see signs of the disease so early in life,” says Olle Grännö, researcher in medicine at Örebro University.
Previous research by the Örebro researchers has shown that people who develop inflammatory bowel disease, IBD, have elevated levels of proteins several years before they become ill. This applies particularly to proteins that play an important role in the immune system.
“We wanted to investigate how early in life this occurs,” says Olle Grännö, who worked together with Jonas Halfvarson, consultant and professor of gastroenterology at Örebro University.
Detective work
The new study is based on samples collected in a long-term research project called All Babies in Southeast Sweden, ABIS, led by Johnny Ludvigsson, Linköping University. It has a database containing samples from 17,000 newborns, collected since the late 1990s.
“It was detective work. Together with Professor Johnny Ludvigsson, we used national registers and reviewed medical records,” says Olle Grännö.
The researchers identified people who had a blood sample from the umbilical cord stored from birth and who were diagnosed with IBD before the age of 18. The samples were compared with samples from individuals who did not develop the disease during the follow-up period.
Raises questions
“We were then able to identify three proteins that were elevated already at birth in individuals who later in life developed IBD. We currently lack knowledge about the role these proteins play in IBD, but it was interesting to see high levels of proteins such as CXCL9, as this protein regulates how immune cells move from the bloodstream into the intestinal lining and trigger inflammation.”
The research findings raise questions about what happens during pregnancy and the first period after birth.
“When a child is born, the immune system encounters an entirely new environment and is exposed to a wide range of bacteria and viruses. We want to understand what causes the elevated protein levels and whether they affect the early development of the immune system,” says Olle Grännö.
“This could make it possible for us to reduce the risk of people developing inflammatory bowel disease.”
Inflammatory bowel disease includes the two main types Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Together, they are often referred to as IBD. The most common age of onset is between 15 and 35, but children and older people can also develop IBD.
The researchers have identified three proteins, CXCL9, GZMB and MMP-10, that were elevated in newborns who later in life developed IBD. The next step is to understand what causes the elevated protein levels and whether they affect the early development of the immune system.
Text: Linda Harradine
Photo: Håkan Risberg, Region Örebro län