- University of Edinburgh-led research has made a significant breakthrough in understanding Crohn’s disease, identifying what drives the development of debilitating scar tissue in the intestines.
- The study found that clusters of immune cells within the gut stimulate surrounding cells to produce excessive collagen, leading to the formation of scar tissue, known as fibrosis.
- This crucial insight offers hope for developing new treatments to prevent or slow fibrosis, a severe complication of Crohn's disease that current therapies primarily targeting inflammation do not address.
- Researchers analysed intestinal tissue samples from Crohn’s patients using advanced techniques, including single-cell RNA sequencing, to uncover the signalling pathways between immune cells, endothelial cells, and collagen-producing cells.
- The findings, published in The Journal of Pathology, are considered a potential “game-changer” for patients, offering the prospect of preventing or slowing the lasting damage caused by the condition.
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