Stromal-Like Cells Are Found in Peripheral Blood of Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Correlate With Immune Activation State.

Introduction: Recent studies have identified a critical role of stromal-immune cell interactions in immunity and immune tolerance. Transcriptomic profiling has implicated stromal cells in immune-mediated disorders including the 2 common forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease (CD), and ulcerative colitis (UC). Stromal-immune interactions may edify inflammatory state and the development of IBD-related complications such as fibrosis, yet the lack of protein markers has hampered studying stromal-immune perturbation.

Lamina Propria Phagocyte Profiling Reveals Targetable Signaling Pathways in Refractory Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background And Aims: Lamina propria phagocytes are key mediators of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to understand the transcriptomic and functional differences in these cells based on location, disease type, inflammation state, and medication use in patients with IBD.

Methods: Phagocytic immune cells in the lamina propria, as defined by the marker CD11b, were isolated from 54 unique patients (n = 111 gut mucosal biopsies).