E-MTAB-6739
BCL-2 levels do not predict azathioprine treatment response in inflammatory bowel disease, but inhibition induces lymphocyte apoptosis and ameliorates colitis in mice.
Background: Inducing apoptosis of autoreactive lymphocytes is part of the therapeutic strategy for Crohn's disease (CD) patients. Failure to respond to medical therapies upon inflammatory bowel disease could result from insufficient apoptosis. To date there are no useful molecular factors for the prediction of clinical relapse.  Study Aims: Characterization of the BCL-2 family-related risk of therapy resistance and verifying its usefulness as parameter for the prediction of clinical relapse could be helpful in deciding which medical therapy to recommend. The project is directly targeted to develop rapidly therapeutic improvement for patients with IBD. A long-term goal is the development of new therapeutic options for the treatment of IBD via a physiologic homeostasis and turnover of lymphocytes. Study Design: We propose to characterize the BCL-2 family-related risk of therapy resistance and its usefulness as parameter for the prediction of clinical relapse upon medical therapy. Samples will be used for next generation sequencing, qPCR, WB, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. The hypothesis is considered confirmed if expression of BCL-2 family members in human peripheral blood is significantly changed between patient groups and correlates with the number of lymphocyte subpopulations.
Background: Inducing apoptosis of autoreactive lymphocytes is part of the therapeutic strategy for Crohn's disease (CD) patients. Failure to respond to medical therapies upon inflammatory bowel disease could result from insufficient apoptosis. To date there are no useful molecular factors for the prediction of clinical relapse.  Study Aims: Characterization of the BCL-2 family-related risk of therapy resistance and verifying its usefulness as parameter for the prediction of clinical relapse could be helpful in deciding which medical therapy to recommend. The project is directly targeted to develop rapidly therapeutic improvement for patients with IBD. A long-term goal is the development of new therapeutic options for the treatment of IBD via a physiologic homeostasis and turnover of lymphocytes. Study Design: We propose to characterize the BCL-2 family-related risk of therapy resistance and its usefulness as parameter for the prediction of clinical relapse upon medical therapy. Samples will be used for next generation sequencing, qPCR, WB, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. The hypothesis is considered confirmed if expression of BCL-2 family members in human peripheral blood is significantly changed between patient groups and correlates with the number of lymphocyte subpopulations.