Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

The Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) affects 3.8–9.2% of the global population. IBS affects the psychological and physiological state of patients and it increases the burden on the family, the medical system, and society. 

IBS is one of the functional gastrointestinal diseases, defined based on symptoms, appearing as chronic recurrent abdominal pain, abdominal distension, abdominal discomfort, or changes in defecation habits and abnormal stool form. According to the Rome IV criteria and other related criteria, IBS can be divided into four subtypes: diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D), constipation-predominant IBS (IBS-C), IBS mixed type (IBS-M), and IBS unclassified (IBS-U). Symptom onset and clinical relapse in IBS involve multifactorial, yet incompletely understood, triggers that likely include variable combinations of environmental, psychological and genetic components and, possibly, feature complex relationships with the gut microbiome. Indeed, microbiome imbalance seems to play a crucial role also in the pathogenesis of IBS. Beyond an intestinal dysbiosis, IBS is characterized also by a marked alteration of intestinal barrier permeability, as well as an altered bioavailability of butyrate at level of enterocytes.

Our research focuses on two main areas:

• Molecular mechanisms that govern the pathophysiology of IBS

We are currently investigating the mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of IBS in animal model. In particular, we are studying new strategies to manage immune/inflammatory events associated to this disorder, acting on the modulation of gut microbiota, on the reinforcement of intestinal epithelial barrier or on the enhancement of butyrate bioavability. 

• Novel therapeutical approaches

We are currently studying the efficacy of pre- and probiotics in modulating visceral hypersensitivity and the immune/inflammatory responses animal models of IBS.