Lankenau Institute for Medical Research And Lankenau Medical Center Researchers Uncover New Potential Therapeutic Approach For Ulcerative Colitis
(Wynnewood, Pa., January 15, 2016) – A new therapeutic target for ulcerative colitis (UC) was proposed by researchers at the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research (LIMR) and Lankenau Medical Center (LMC), both part of Main Line Health. The researchers showed that administering an antibody for the Bridging integrator 1 (Bin1) protein can blunt effects of the disease.
UC is a chronic disorder of the large intestine in which the lining of the colon becomes inflamed and develops open sores. If left untreated, UC can lead to colorectal cancer. The disease may affect as many as 700,000 Americans, according to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America.
“Our results suggest that a therapy based on Bin1 monoclonal antibody could offer a novel strategy to treat UC and possibly limit risks of colorectal cancer,” said Sunil Thomas, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor at LIMR and the lead author of the study that was published online in July by the medical journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences.
Currently, managing UC requires the administration of anti-inflammatory medications that can have side effects such as increased risk for infection. Thus, a new therapeutic approach is needed. In the experiment, mice that had been given Bin1 monoclonal antibodies had reduced morbidity from colitis, while unprotected mice showed severe lesions and other symptoms of UC.
Other LIMR and LMC researchers on the investigative team included: Joanna Mercado, James DuHadaway, Katherine DiGuilio, James Mullin and George Prendergast.
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About Lankenau Institute for Medical Research
Founded in 1927, the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research (LIMR) is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research center located in suburban Philadelphia on the campus of Lankenau Medical Center. Part of Main Line Health, LIMR is one of the few freestanding, hospital-associated medical research centers in the nation. The faculty and staff at the Institute are dedicated to advancing an understanding of the causes of cancer, heart disease and diabetes. This information is used to help improve diagnosis and treatment of these diseases, as well as find ways to prevent them. LIMR is also committed to extending the boundaries of human health and well-being through technology development and the training of the next generation of scientists and physicians. To learn about LIMR, visit limr.org.
UC is a chronic disorder of the large intestine in which the lining of the colon becomes inflamed and develops open sores. If left untreated, UC can lead to colorectal cancer. The disease may affect as many as 700,000 Americans, according to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America.
“Our results suggest that a therapy based on Bin1 monoclonal antibody could offer a novel strategy to treat UC and possibly limit risks of colorectal cancer,” said Sunil Thomas, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor at LIMR and the lead author of the study that was published online in July by the medical journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences.
Currently, managing UC requires the administration of anti-inflammatory medications that can have side effects such as increased risk for infection. Thus, a new therapeutic approach is needed. In the experiment, mice that had been given Bin1 monoclonal antibodies had reduced morbidity from colitis, while unprotected mice showed severe lesions and other symptoms of UC.
Other LIMR and LMC researchers on the investigative team included: Joanna Mercado, James DuHadaway, Katherine DiGuilio, James Mullin and George Prendergast.
###
About Lankenau Institute for Medical Research
Founded in 1927, the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research (LIMR) is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research center located in suburban Philadelphia on the campus of Lankenau Medical Center. Part of Main Line Health, LIMR is one of the few freestanding, hospital-associated medical research centers in the nation. The faculty and staff at the Institute are dedicated to advancing an understanding of the causes of cancer, heart disease and diabetes. This information is used to help improve diagnosis and treatment of these diseases, as well as find ways to prevent them. LIMR is also committed to extending the boundaries of human health and well-being through technology development and the training of the next generation of scientists and physicians. To learn about LIMR, visit limr.org.