The regulation and function of epithelial Glutathione Peroxidase 4 in Inflammatory Bowel Disease  

Timon Adolph © Timon Adolph

Aim of Research

Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) controls a specialised regulated form of cell death termed ferroptosis. Research supported by this ECCO Grant aims at investigating the regulation and function of GPX4 in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) from patients with Crohn’s Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC). This project aims to establish a role for ferroptosis and lipid peroxidation in IBD and to clarify the function of GPX4 in Crohn’s Disease.

Using exosomes to gain insights into the early phase of Crohn’s Disease  

Sare Verstockt © Sare Verstockt

Aim of Research

Crohn’s Disease (CD) is characterised by chronic inflammation of the gut. Treatment usually involves drug therapy or surgery with the goal of reducing inflammation and inducing and maintaining steroid-free remission and mucosal healing. A more intensive treatment early in the disease course leads to better outcomes. However, the time between symptoms and diagnosis is often years.

The aims of this project are to identify (a) the triggers present at the onset of CD, allowing (pointers for) new therapies, and (b) molecular markers that can help diagnose CD as early as possible. Given that exosomes provide a rich genetic profile reflecting their cellular origin, we are focussing on exosomal markers.

Innate lymphoid cells in Paediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease  

Aline van Acker © Aline van Acker

The incidence of paediatric IBD (PIBD) is on the rise. However, the underlying aetiology of PIBD remains largely unknown, indicating the dire need for more knowledge on the mechanisms driving this disease. Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) constitute an important component of the mucosal immune system. Recent years have seen an increase in ILC knowledge, with numerous publications highlighting the importance of ILCs in murine and adult IBD development and progression.

In this project, we aim to elucidate ILC heterogeneity and function specifically in PIBD. In practice, single-cell suspensions are isolated from blood and colon biopsies of PIBD and non-PIBD patients admitted to the Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Unit at Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden or the Department of Clinical Research and Education at Södra Hospital, Stockholm.

Pieter Hindryckx © ECCO

For the 14^th edition of the ECCO Congress we return to the venue of the 2014 Congress: the Bella Center in the city of Copenhagen, Denmark.

The central theme of the 2019 Congress is “Research drives clinical care”, reflecting a well-balanced cocktail comprising the latest advances in basic and clinical research in IBD and their (potential) implications for daily clinical practice.  

Christina Kapizioni  © Christina Kapizioni

Increased risk of acute arterial events in young patients and severely active IBD: A nationwide French cohort study

Kirchgesner J, Beaugerie L, Carrat F, Andersen NN, Jess T, Schwarzinger M; BERENICE study group
Gut. 2018;67:1261–1268.

Dominik Bettenworth © ECCO

Dear Y-ECCO Friends,

A warm welcome to the Y-ECCO Literature Review section, where you will find a summary and discussion of cutting-edge clinical trials as well as basic science studies in the field of IBD. 

If you are a Y-ECCO Member and you are looking for an opportunity to get actively involved in ECCO and gain some visibility, contribute your article to the Y-ECCO Literature Review corner, together with a short self-description and your picture.

Nuha Yassin © ECCO

“The patient's perspective”

With the Y-ECCO Interview corner, I have had the honour to talk to inspirational people who have been kind enough to share with the ECCO Family and the IBD Community their professional and personal IBD journeys. Taking an IBD MDT approach, I have had the pleasure to speak to surgeons, gastroenterologists, nurses and dietitians from Europe and beyond. 

Today, I have the pleasure to speak to a representative of the most important group within the MDT, the patient. As clinicians, our clinical and research work is patient centred. Therefore, it is natural that the Interview corner should take us to a place we have never been before, the patient’s home. 

Nuha Yassin © ECCO

Dear Y-ECCO Friends,

I hope you are well and enjoying your summer break. As we catch the last rays of sunshine, or hide away from the sweltering heat, we think about the next ECCO Congress in the beautiful city of Copenhagen. Abstract submission is now open, and Y-ECCO Members can prepare for writing the best abstracts and sharing their research with the ECCO Community. There will be an opportunity to win one of the five best Y-ECCO Abstract Awards, but you’re only eligible if you indicate that your abstract qualifies for the Y-ECCO Abstract Award. If you’re a Y-ECCO basic scientist, please prepare your abstracts with a general focus on two areas, genetics/epigenetics and metabolomics, and do tick the box if you’d like your abstract to be considered for presentation at the Y-ECCO Basic Science Workshop.

Paula Borralho Nunes © ECCO

A significant number of patients with Ulcerative Colitis (UC) will require a colectomy [1], with the most frequent indications including medical refractory disease and the occurrence of dysplasia or cancer in cases of longstanding disease. A total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch–anal anastomosis (IPAA) has become the surgery of choice for the “definitive” management of UC since it avoids a permanent stoma while removing all diseased colonic mucosa [2], but it is also used for familial adenomatous polyposis and sometimes (advertently or inadvertently) for Crohn’s Disease (CD). However, although this surgery has significantly improved the quality of life of patients with UC, complications such as fistulas, abscesses, strictures of the anastomosis and pouchitis can occur after restorative proctocolectomies. Pouchitis refers to a chronic relapsing inflammatory condition with active inflammation of IPAA mucosa and is considered to be a primary “non-specific, idiopathic inflammation of the neorectal ileal mucosa”. 

Michel Adamina © ECCO

The 12th European Colorectal Congress takes place from Monday, December 3 to Thursday, December 6, 2018 in St. Gallen, Switzerland, and will be preceded by the Colorectal Masterclass on Sunday, December 2. About 1,400 participants from 80 countries are expected to attend the St. Gallen Colorectal Week (www.colorectalsurgery.eu).