New research is edging closer to helping us prevent IBD. By investigating the microbiome and epigenetics, scientists have discovered a new marker that could be used to lower risk of developing IBD – and even treat it.
Groundbreaking IBD microbiome research is revolutionizing how we understand and treat inflammatory bowel disease. Scientists investigating the complex IBD microbiome relationship have discovered epigenetic markers that could predict disease risk and guide personalized treatment approaches. This breakthrough in IBD microbiome science offers new hope for the 1.4 million Americans living with inflammatory bowel disease, potentially transforming how we prevent and manage this challenging condition.
How IBD Microbiome Changes Affect Disease Development
Numerous factors affect IBD pathogenesis, with both environment and genetics at play1. Still, inflammation along the digestive tract, as well as abnormal immune responses, are defining features. More on the mechanistic details remains to be uncovered. At the moment, therapeutics focus on managing inflammation and, although they can help suppress symptoms, complete treatment is still rare and many complications tend to arise2.
IBD Microbiome and Epigenetics: Understanding the Connection
The reality of the situation led researchers to investigate. By focusing on improving their understanding of IBD triggers, they’re looking to develop personalised approaches that can predict therapy responses and fully treat it.
How IBD Microbiome Alterations Trigger Histone Methylation
Recently, a group of researchers investigated the relationship between the microbiome and epigenetics, seeking to see how it affects the development of IBD. Their main focus was on histone methylation, a process that controls gene expression by adding methyl groups onto DNA. Using ChIP-seq – an epigenetic technique that analyzes protein-DNA interactions- they examined the intestinal epithelial cells of recently diagnosed IBD patients. Turns out, there were higher levels of histone methylation in certain genes linked with metabolism, immune regulation and cell signalling. They believe this may open possibilities into understanding what mechanisms cause severe inflammation and even Crohn’s.
In IBD, patients present with an altered microbiome that also affects histone methylation levels.
Typically, the gut microbiome regulates these genes. In IBD, patients present with an altered microbiome that also affects histone methylation levels. Specifically, they cited higher levels of H3K4me3 (H3-lysine 4 trimethylation) at the promotor region of the DNA, proposing this as a potential marker for severe inflammation.
IBD Microbiome Health: Key to Managing Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Ultimately, gut health plays a central role in which epigenetic switches are activated in IBD. It seems the microbiome actually triggers epigenetic changes that makes some people more prone to intestinal inflammation. At an individual level, the microbiome is driven by both genetics and lifestyle factors – such as diet, lineage, etc. With millions of microbes residing in our guts, how smooth our body runs surely depends on how we support them.
