Immune system malfunction may trigger inflammatory bowel disease
Friday, May 13, 2011 - 05:00
in Health & Medicine
In a finding that could have implications for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Yale University researchers have identified a previously unknown sensor regulating the composition of certain intestinal bacterial microflora (the microbes that live in our gut). They also found the absence of this regulating sensor results in a dramatic alteration of the microbial environment of the intestines increasing the risk of developing IBD. The study is available online in Cell on May 12, and will appear in the May 27 print edition.