Crohn’s disease is a chronic condition characterized by inflammation and irritation in the digestive tract. While it most commonly affects the small and large intestines, it can affect any part of the digestive tract.
Researchers estimate that over 500,000 people in the United States have Crohn’s disease. Studies also show that the condition has become more common in the U.S. and in Europe.
The cause of Crohn’s disease remains unknown. Researchers previously found that a version of the norovirus that occurs in mice (MNV) causes cell death in panted cells – the cells that line the small intestine—with a specific gene deletion.
Understanding more about how MNV triggers paneth cell death—a key marker of Crohn’s disease—could lead to new treatment strategies for the condition.
Recently, researchers investigated how MNV might trigger Crohn’s disease in mouse models and human tissue samples.
“Specifically, we identified a protective molecule called API5 that is normally released by special T cells, but that norovirus infection interferes with its release,” he added.
The study was published in NatureTrusted Source.