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Project

Identification of the mast cell-related immune mechanisms underlying the development of visceral pain in irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal discomfort and pain, associated with altered defecation, in the absence of an organic cause. The most consistent symptom of IBS is abdominal pain, resulting from visceral hypersensitivity (VHS), one of the hallmark features of IBS. In IBS patients, VHS has been shown to result from an abnormal activation of mast cells. Targeting the mechanisms leading to the abnormal activation of mast cells in patients with IBS could prove effective, however these mechanisms remain unclear. This project aims to identify the mast cell-related immune mechanisms underlying the development of visceral pain in IBS patients. We will provide the first characterization of human rectal mast cell populations in health using single cell transcriptomics and proteomics. We will then identify mast cell mediators and regulatory pathways differentially expressed in IBS and validate the role of these targets on the development of visceral pain in murine models of IBS.

Date:14 Mar 2022 →  Today
Keywords:irritable bowel syndrome, visceral hypersensitivity, mast cell
Disciplines:Gastro-enterology
Project type:PhD project