Altered Bile Acid and Pouch Microbiota Composition in Patients With Chronic Pouchitis.

Background: Patients with ulcerative colitis and total abdominal proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis have a 50% risk of pouchitis and a 5% to 10% risk of chronic pouchitis.

Aims: The goal of the study was to compare pouch microbiota and stool bile acid composition in patients with chronic pouchitis, chronic pouchitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis, and normal pouch.

Methods: Patients with ulcerative colitis and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis were recruited from March 20, 2014, to August 6, 2019, and categorized into normal pouch, chronic pouchitis, and chronic pouchitis/primary sclerosing cholangitis groups.

Polygenic risk score predicts risk of primary sclerosing cholangitis in inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Forty distinct primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) genomic loci have been identified through multiancestry meta-analyses. The polygenic risk score (PRS) could serve as a promising tool to discover unique disease behaviour, like PSC, underlying inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Aim: To test whether PRS indicates PSC risk in patients with IBD.

Novel Genetic Risk Variants and Clinical Predictors Associated With Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis.

Introduction: Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) who are likely to have primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) should be identified because PSC can influence UC clinical behavior and outcomes.The aim of this study was to establish a model incorporating clinical and genetic risk predictors that identifies patients with UC at risk of developing PSC.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective case-control study.

Durable Response in Patients With Refractory Fistulizing Perianal Crohn's Disease Using Autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cells on a Dissolvable Matrix: Results from the Phase I Stem Cell on Matrix Plug Trial.

Background: Refractory perianal Crohn's disease remains notoriously difficult to treat. We developed a novel technology using a commercially available bioabsorbable fistula plug to deliver autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Objective: This study aimed to assess therapeutic safety and feasibility in the completed STOMP (stem cells on matrix plugs) phase 1 clinical trial.

RNF20 and RNF40 regulate vitamin D receptor-dependent signaling in inflammatory bowel disease.

Despite the identification of several genetic factors linked to increased susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be elucidated in detail. The ubiquitin ligases RNF20 and RNF40 mediate the monoubiquitination of histone H2B at lysine 120 (H2Bub1) and were shown to play context-dependent roles in the development of inflammation. Here, we aimed to examine the function of the RNF20/RNF40/H2Bub1 axis in intestinal inflammation in IBD patients and mouse models.

Novel Genetic Variant Predicts Surgical Recurrence Risk in Crohn's Disease Patients.

Background: We aimed to identify a model of clinical and genetic risk factors through hypothesis-free search across genome that can predict the surgical recurrence risk after the first abdominal surgery in CD patients.

Materials And Methods: Two independent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) cohort studies were used to derive and validate the genetic risk profile. The study subjects were genotyped using Illumina Immunochip custom genotyping array.

Unique Phenotypic Characteristics and Clinical Course in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis: A Multicenter US Experience.

Introduction: Ulcerative colitis (UC) associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a rare phenotype. We aimed to assess patients with UC-PSC or UC alone and describe differences in clinical and phenotypic characteristics, antitumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy, and long-term clinical outcomes.

Methods: This retrospective multicenter cohort study included patients who received a diagnosis of UC from 1962 through 2015.

Novel Genetic Risk Variants Can Predict Anti-TNF Agent Response in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: It is important to identify patients with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] refractory to anti-tumour necrosis factor [TNF] therapy, to avoid potential adverse effects and to adopt different treatment strategies. We aimed to identify and validate clinical and genetic factors to predict anti-TNF response in patients with IBD.

Materials And Methods: Mayo Clinic and Washington University IBD genetic association study cohorts were used as discovery and replicate datasets, respectively.

Early Results of a Phase I Trial Using an Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Coated Fistula Plug for the Treatment of Transsphincteric Cryptoglandular Fistulas.

Background: Management of transsphincteric cryptoglandular fistulas remains a challenging problem and the optimal surgical approach remains elusive. Mesenchymal stem cells, increasingly being utilized for perianal Crohn's disease, offer a novel therapy to treat cryptoglandular fistulas.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine safety and feasibility of using an autologous mesenchymal stem cell-coated fistula plug in patients with transsphincteric cryptoglandular fistulas.

The Role of the Histone Methyltransferase Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 (EZH2) in the Pathobiological Mechanisms Underlying Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

Regulatory T (Treg) cells expressing the transcription factor FOXP3 play a pivotal role in maintaining immunologic self-tolerance. We and others have shown previously that EZH2 is recruited to the FOXP3 promoter and its targets in Treg cells. To further address the role for EZH2 in Treg cellular function, we have now generated mice that lack EZH2 specifically in Treg cells (EZH2FOXP3).