News Release

Discovery may aid remission of ulcerative colitis

Discovery may lead to a new treatment

Peer-Reviewed Publication

McMaster University

Hamilton, ON (June 14, 2010) – McMaster University researchers have identified a specific chemical that may trigger remission in patients with the debilitating disease of ulcerative colitis.

The team from the Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute has found that people in long-term remission of ulcerative colitis have elevated levels of the same chemical, prostaglandin D2, which they previously found to be important in promoting healing and maintaining remission of the condition in laboratory rats.

"The levels of prostaglandin D2 were only elevated in those patients in long-term remission, and that suggests it is a key factor in preventing new episodes of ulcerative colitis," said John Wallace, director of the Institute and a professor of medicine for the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine.

Ulcerative colitis impacts 100,000 Canadians and millions worldwide, but has an unknown cause and limited treatment options. Most people are never cured, and often require surgical removal of the colon.

The discovery may lead to a new treatment for inflammatory bowel disease which would promote production of prostaglandin D2, Wallace said. "It is entirely possible our findings could extend to Crohn's disease as well."

###

The study by Wallace and post doctoral student Linda Vong with colleagues from the University of Calgary is being published in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) on June 14. Funding for the research was provided by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research and the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada.

Editors: John Wallace is available for interviews this week. However, he will be unavailable on Monday, June 14.

Post Doc Linda Vong will be available the week of June 14th

Clinicians are available to talk about the importance of this discovery.

For more information:
Veronica McGuire
Media Relations, Faculty of Health Sciences
McMaster University
905-525-9140, ext. 22169
vmcguir@mcmaster.ca

Jacqueline Waldorf
Manager, Marketing and Communications
Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC)
416-920-5035 / 800-387-1479, ext. 241
jwaldorf@ccfc.ca

Michael Dwyer
Public Affairs Officer
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
CIHR Media Relations 613-941-4563
medialrelations@cihr-irsc.gc.ca


Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.