Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), is a lifelong condition marked by chronic intestinal inflammation that can severely limit quality of life. Growing evidence now points to an immune cell called the B cell as an important and underexplored contributor to disease.
Large numbers of abnormal B cells are observed in inflamed intestinal tissue. More recently, these cells have been shown to produce harmful antibodies and inflammatory signals that can directly damage the gut. Despite these insights, therapies that specifically target B cells are not currently used in IBD.
A precise treatment, CAR-T therapy, which removes B cells, has transformed care in cancer and certain autoimmune diseases. Remarkably, it has also led to complete remission in a patient with severe ulcerative colitis (UC). At the same time, rare cases of intestinal inflammation following B cell removal highlight the importance of carefully studying safety.
In this project, we will a) study how the gut immune system responds to B cell removal in patients already receiving CAR-T therapy, and b) test B cell depletion in a small group of patients with severe UC. By carefully examining immune cells, gut bacteria and inflammation, this work aims to open a new and potentially transformative treatment pathway for IBD.
