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An international team with the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has provided a hint on the causes of irritable bowel movement,
changed function of nerves in the intestinal wall triggered by molecules released in the wall from the intestinal mucosa may be responsible for IBS. This can be experimentally mimicked by mucosal biopsy supernatants from IBS patients whereas supernatants from healthy controls show no nerve activation.
The team of researchers studied supernatants from patients with ulcerative colitis in remission (UC). IBS is considered as a mild form of inflammatory bowel disease, patients with quiescence ulcerative colitis report IBS-like symptoms. The supernatants from these patients also activated neurons. The nerve activating properties of IBS and UC supernatants were mainly due to proteases, which are not only enzymes but also important signaling molecules.
The nerve activation from IBS supernatants was mediated by proteases signaling via the protease activated receptor type 1, this receptor played no role in the effect of UC supernatants. IBS-specific protein pattern, in particular an IBS-specific protease profile. Proteome analysis revealed 204 differently expressed proteins in IBS supernatants and 4 proteases that were only enhanced in IBS supernatants.
Experimenting with protease inhibitor from a probiotic Bifidobacterium longum makes the inhibitor to block the nerve activation triggered by the IBS supernatant. Protease profiling is a promising strategy for the development of irritable bowel syndrome biomarkers, they provide additional evidence for a defined organic causes for irritable bowel syndrome.
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