Patients' own cells could be the key to treating Crohn's disease



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A new technique using patient-specific modified cells to treat Crohn's disease has been shown to be effective in experiments using human cells, a clinical trial of treatment to begin in the next six months.

Researchers at the Biomedical Research Centers (BRCs) of the North American Institutes Guy and St Thomas have developed this technique by studying white blood cells taken from patients with Crohn's disease and comparing them to the cells of people in good health. health. Their results have enabled CRB's cell therapy specialists to develop a treatment that involves taking patients' cells and cultivating them in a special culture so that they behave more like cells of healthy people.

The research, published in the journal Gastroenterology, shows that this technique is effective in human cells, which means that it is ready for use in a clinical trial. The proposed Tribute Trial will test whether the treatment is safe and effective for treating Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease is a chronic disease that causes inflammation of parts of the digestive system, causing various symptoms such as diarrhea, stomach upset, fatigue, and weight loss. Its causes are unknown, but we know that the immune system plays a role. It is estimated that the often debilitating disease affects about 620,000 people in the UK.

Professor Graham Lord, former director of NIHR Guy & # 39; s and CRB St Thomas, led the research. He recently took office as vice president and dean of the faculty of biology, medicine and health at the University of Manchester. "This is the next frontier of cell therapy, as we go beyond treating the symptoms of Crohn's disease and trying to reset the immune system to cope with this disease.

"It's a real house-to-house treatment in that we started by observing the cells and tissues donated by Guy and St Thomas patients, we developed a treatment, and we are now starting to experiment, all at the Trust.This shows how central patients are looking, helping to create a treatment that could help thousands of additional people. "

Rachel Sawyer, director of 50-year-old communication and residing in Anerley, South East London, was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2000 and was treated at Guy's and St Thomas's. ;. Although her condition is now under control, she supports other people with Crohn's disease and manages the @Bottomline_IBD Twitter account.

She said, "One of the worst things for me has been unpredictability, especially when we need a toilet quickly – having Crohnt completely changes your daily life and prevents you from doing the normal things we take for granted. like going socially or using public transport, even now, fear is never far from my mind.

"Another difficult thing is the stigma badociated with intestinal diseases.It's hard to talk about it and say it openly, even with family and friends.I found life very insulating and difficult sometimes – and it's something that many people with Crohn's experience, regardless of whether they were diagnosed years ago or last month, this can have an impact on the formative years of their life.

"Anything that would help Crohn's people to have the confidence to become the people they were destined to change the game."

The researchers found that the specialized white blood cells called regulatory T cells of Crohn's patients produced less of a specific gut-specific protein called α4β7 integrin than the regulatory T cells of healthy people. Working with specialists in the BRC Guy & # 39; s and St Thomas & # 39; BRC? S innovative therapies manufacturing platform, they have developed a cell therapy technique based on these findings.

This technique involves developing cells of Crohn's disease patients with a molecule called RAR568, which restores healthy levels of α4β7 integrin. The cells are then returned to patients by intravenous infusion.

Dr. Peter Irving, Gastroenterology Consultant and co-author of the paper, said, "While the treatments available for Crohn's disease have increased in recent years, they only work in some patients. potentially serious side effects in some cases patients This research paves the way for an attempt to use patient cells to treat their Crohn's disease and we look forward to offering people the chance to participate in the very near future. "

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The research was funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) through NIHR Guy & # 39; s and the St. Thomas Biomedical Research Center and the Medical Research Council. Additional support was provided by the Litwin Pioneers funding program for IBD from the Crohn and Colitis Foundation, the Freemason Great Charity and the Rosetree Trust.

Contact Anna Perman, Head of Communications, NIHR Guy & # 39; s & St Thomas Biomedical Research Center
tel: 07717 817 714 or e-mail: [email protected]

Note to editors:
The document is available at Gastroenterology website https://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(19)30048-4/fulltext

More information on Tribute Trial will be published on http: // www.guys and thomas.nhs.United Kingdom/research/studies/gastroenterology

"It is estimated that the often disabling situation affects about 620,000 people in the UK". Source: Gastroenterol first line. 2015 July; 6 (3): 169-174.

About the Biomedical Research Center of the Guy and St Thomas North American Institutes

The Biomedical Research Center of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) of the NHS Guy & # 39; s Foundation and St Thomas and King & # 39; s College London are working on the development and supply of new medicines and diagnostics to patients, research and innovation development in the NHS, and leadership of national systems for maximum impact on patients.

With our research activity organized into nine themes, each with an individual Athena Swan Silver Award highlighting our commitment to equality and diversity, and backed by our world-clbad interdisciplinary infrastructure, we are on the cusp of realizing the next change for the health and wealth of our nation. http: // www.guys and thomasbrc.NIHR.acUnited Kingdom/

About the NHRI

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is the largest funder of health and care research in the country. The NIHR:

  • Funding, support and high-quality research relevant to the NHS, public health and social care
  • Involve and involve patients, caregivers and the public to improve the reach, quality and impact of research
  • Attracts, trains and supports the best researchers to face the complex challenges of the future in health and care
  • Invests in world-clbad infrastructure and qualified delivery personnel to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services
  • Collaborate with other public funders, charities and the sector to maximize the value of research for patients and the economy

NIHR was created in 2006 to improve the health and wealth of the country through research. It is funded by the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs. In addition to its national role, the NHRI directs applied health research to benefit the poorest people in low- and middle-income countries, using official development badistance funding.

This work uses data provided by patients and collected by the NHS as part of their care and support and would not have been possible without access to this data. NIHR recognizes and values ​​the role of patient data, which is securely accessed and stored, both to support and improve research and care. http: // www.NIHR.acUnited Kingdom/patientdata

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King's enjoys an excellent reputation for his world-clbad teaching and cutting-edge research. As part of the 2014 Research Excellence (REF), eighty-four percent of King's researches were deemed "leading" or "internationally excellent" (3 * and 4 *).

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