Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) describes two separate disorders: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Both are characterised by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal mucosa, resulting in ulceration, mucosal bleeding and diarrhoea. The  histopathology and molecular basis of Crohn’s disease and UC are very different, with the immune response of UC that of a Th2-type, involving cytokines such as IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13. In contrast, Crohn’s displays characteristics of a Th1-type response, dependent on the production of IL-12, TNF-α and IFN-γ. 

Epistem's IBD platform comprises a comprehensive range incorporating:

Target validation:

• Access to human disease tissue (Crohn's and UC)
• Immunohistochemistry and image analysis (Ariol®)
• Gene expression profiling (qRT-PCR)

In vitro compound testing:

• Mixed lymphocyte reaction
• Measuring production of interleukins by ELISA

Inflammatory bowel disease models:

• Acute models (DSS, TNBS, oxazolone)
• Chronic models (IL-10 KO, T-cell transfer, chronic DSS)