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Published on: May 2, 2018
Mycobacterium paratuberculosis and Crohn's disease
K Tanaka1, M Wilks, P J Coates
1Department of Medical Microbiology, Bartholomew's Hospital, London.
This study investigated Mycobacterium paratuberculosis in Crohn's disease. No significant antibody response or bacterial presence was found, not supporting its role in Crohn's disease etiology.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with an unknown etiology.
- Mycobacterium paratuberculosis has been investigated as a potential causative agent.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the etiological role of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis in Crohn's disease.
- To assess the immunological response to M. paratuberculosis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
Main Methods:
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure IgG and IgM antibody response to M. paratuberculosis antigens.
- Western blotting and immunocytochemistry to analyze immune response to specific mycobacterial antigens.
- Indirect peroxidase test to detect M. paratuberculosis in tissue samples.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in antibody concentrations (IgG and IgM) against M. paratuberculosis antigens was found between Crohn's disease patients, ulcerative colitis patients, and controls.
- Western blotting and immunocytochemistry assays showed negative results for immune response to mycobacterial antigens.
- Direct detection of M. paratuberculosis in tissue samples using the indirect peroxidase test was negative in all examined cases.
Conclusions:
- The study does not provide evidence to support a role for Mycobacterium paratuberculosis in the etiology of Crohn's disease.
- Current immunological and microbiological investigations do not link M. paratuberculosis to Crohn's disease pathogenesis.
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