We developed an orally administered, engineered, bacterium-based, RNA interference-mediated therapeutic method to significantly reduce the symptoms in the most frequently used animal model of inflammatory bowel disease. This bacterium-mediated RNA interference strategy was based on the genomically stable, non-pathogenic MDS42 strain, which was engineered to constitutively produce invasin and the listeriolysin O cytolysin. These proteins enabled the bacteria first to invade the colon epithelium and then degrade in the phagosome. This allowed the delivery of a plasmid encoding small hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting tumor necrosis factor (TNF) into the cytoplasm of the target cells. The expression levels of TNF and other cytokines significantly decreased upon this treatment in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis, and the degree of inflammation was significantly reduced. With further safety modifications this method could serve as a safe and side effect-free alternative to biologicals targeting TNF or other inflammatory mediators.
Growing evidence suggests inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is linked to ischemic stroke (IS); however, the results are inconclusive. Therefore, it remains uncertain whether the association between IBD and IS is causal. Herein, we performed a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) study to examine the causal association of IBD with IS.
Background: The consumption of ultra-processed foods has increased significantly worldwide and is associated with the rise in inflammatory bowel diseases. However, any causative factors and their underlying mechanisms are yet to be identified. This study aimed to further elucidate whether different types of the dietary emulsifier carrageenan (CGN) can alter the permeability and inflammatory state of the intestinal epithelium.
The enzyme N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) plays an important role in metabolism and detoxification of xenobiotics, including carcinogens and medications. We aimed to assess the contribution of the NAT2 polymorphism to susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the Polish population. The study involved 101 IBD patients and 100 healthy controls.
Gut immunity is essential for maintaining intestinal health. Recent studies have identified that intracellular liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) may play a significant role in regulating gut immunity, however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. LLPS refers to droplet condensates formed through intracellular molecular interactions, which are crucial for the formation of membraneless organelles and biomolecules.
