Serum Periostin is Able to Stratify Type 2-Dominant Ulcerative Colitis

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Immunology
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a heterogeneous inflammatory bowel disease with insufficient biomarkers for endotyping.
• Periostin has been identified as a potential biomarker for type 2 inflammation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate periostin as a biomarker for UC endotyping.
• To investigate the role of periostin in UC pathogenesis.
• To assess the predictive value of periostin for treatment efficacy.

Main Methods:

• Examined periostin expression in UC patient colon tissues and serum.
• Correlated serum periostin with eosinophilic infiltration and treatment response.
• Utilized a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mouse model to study periostin's role.

Main Results:

• UC patients exhibited significantly higher periostin levels than healthy controls, with notable heterogeneity.
• Serum and tissue periostin levels correlated with eosinophil infiltration, independent of blood eosinophil counts.
• Type 2-dominant UC, identified by serum periostin, showed higher remission rates with oral prednisolone.
• Periostin deficiency ameliorated colonic inflammation in a mouse model.

Conclusions:

• Periostin serves as a valuable biomarker for stratifying UC patients with type 2-dominant inflammation.
• Periostin can predict the efficacy of oral prednisolone treatment in UC.
• Periostin plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of type 2-dominant UC.