Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBDs): Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn’s Disease (CD)

IBD has been a global healthcare problem, with increasing evidence, that negatively affect the quality of life. It includes two main forms, represented by Crohns’s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC), which are both inflammatory conditions characterized by relapsing and remitting phases.

UC is typified by mucosal inflammation limited to the colon, unlike CD which is characterized by a transmural inflammation that affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract in a non-continous way.

Although the etiology of IBDs remain largely unknown, recent studies indicate different factors involved in the onset of IBDs, including genetic suceptibility, external environment (i.e. smoking, diet, drugs), alterations of intestinal barrier and changes in gut microbiota. In particular, a condition of gut dysbiosis seems to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of IBD, since important alterations in bacterial, viral, protist and fungal populations are observed in IBD patients. In this context, an imbalance of microbiota composition can alter intestinal permeability and promote immune/inflammatory responses that contrbute to the chronicization of inflammation.

Our research investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenis of IBD in particular focusing on the interaction between innate and adaptive immune responsens as well as on the putative therapeutical role of modulating gut microbiota and its metabolites such as shorty chain fatty acids (SCFA, i.e. butyrate, propionate and acetate) to exert immunomodulatory activities.  

Our research focuses on two main areas:

• Molecular mechanisms that govern the pathophysiology of IBD

We are currently investigating the mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of IBDs in animal models. In particular, we are studying new strategies to manage immune/inflammatory events associated to IBDs, acting on the modulation of gut microbiota and on the reinforcement of intestinal epithelial barrier, with the aim to induce and maintain remission in these pathologies. 

• Novel therapeutical approaches

We are currently studying the efficacy of pre- and probiotics and the role of SCFA in modulating the immune/inflammatory responses and in the reinforcing epithelial barrier integrity. 

• Translational studies

We are performing experiments on colonic biopsies from UC and CD patients in order to investigate the pathophysiology of IBD and to explore novel therapeutic strategies.