Abdominal pain is a debilitating and often persistent symptom for patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), even when inflammation is successfully treated. Current pain medications frequently lack effectiveness or cause significant side effects. Our project proposes a novel solution: harnessing the gut microbiome to treat pain at its source. We have identified that the gut microbiome produces a specific compound called pyrogallol, which suppresses pain signaling by activating a receptor (GPR35) found on gut sensory neurons.
In this study, we will test whether delivering pyrogallol or specific beneficial bacteria that produce it can reduce visceral pain in mouse models of IBD. Simultaneously, we will analyze samples from IBD patients to determine if natural levels of these pain-relieving microbial compounds correlate with lower pain severity. Uniquely, we will collect samples from specific regions of the small intestine and colon, not just stool, to understand exactly where these interactions occur. This research aims to develop safer, targeted microbiome-based therapies to effectively manage abdominal pain in IBD.
