NHS Lothian

University of Edinburgh Researchers Identify Key Cellular Mechanism Driving Fibrosis in Crohn's Disease

- University of Edinburgh researchers have identified clusters of immune cells called Crohn's lymphoid aggregates that stimulate surrounding cells to produce excessive scar tissue in the intestines. - The study used single-cell RNA sequencing to reveal previously unrecognized interactions between immune cells, endothelial cells, and collagen-producing cells that actively promote fibrosis. - Current treatments primarily target inflammation rather than scarring itself, making this discovery crucial for developing therapies to prevent or slow fibrosis progression. - The findings offer hope for new therapeutic targets that could address one of the most challenging complications of Crohn's disease, which currently requires surgery as the only treatment option.