NEURONAL AUTOANTIBODIES IN IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME
Research type
Research Study
Full title
NEURONAL AUTOANTIBODIES IN IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME
IRAS ID
184672
Contact name
Quenton Wessels
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Lancaster University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
13/NW/0178, REC reference number ; JD/JP/GF/SFRC615, NHS reference
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Traditionally, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is characterised by abnormal gastrointestinal motility, visceral hypersensitivity and psychosocial factors and the underlying mechanisms involved remain elusive. Our hypothesis is that IBS can be explained by molecular mimicry between our microbial flora and neuronal proteins of the hypothalamus and gut; leading to auto-antibodies which affect mood and motivation. Auto-antibodies to regulatory peptides and to serotonin have been found in patients with anorexia nervosa and with chronic fatigue syndrome. To investigate this hypothesis we need to search for antibodies to neuronal proteins in patients with IBS. A key aspect of the hypothesis is that genes and proteins are conserved in evolution so that animals as diverse as flies, mice and humans will have similar neuronal proteins. The aim of the current proposal is to develop an assay using Drosophila brain tissue to measure auto-antibodies to neuronal proteins in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Due to the strong conservation of genes and function, Drosophila melanogaster has been used as a primary model organism for over 100 years in many areas of research into human disease and function. It is highly likely that auto-antibodies to human neuronal proteins will cross react with Drosophila neuronal proteins thus eliminating the expensive and ethically challenging use of mammalian neuronal tissue during screening and allowing rapid identification of cross reacting proteins. The study will use sera obtained from patients recruited through the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay (UHMB) Foundation Trust for a previously approved project (REC reference 13/NW/0178) Of these, 21 patients within the IBS group, 22 patients with Irritable Bowel Disorder (IBD) and 34 control group patients will be used. Data will be analysed using appropriate statistical tests to establish whether antibody levels are significantly raised in IBS patients.
REC name
North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NE/0326
Date of REC Opinion
11 Sep 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion