KU Leuven Receives $2.8 Million Grant to Probe Origins of Crohn’s Disease Fibrosis

Crohn’s disease, affecting approximately 2 million people around the world, manifests with intestinal inflammation and abdominal pain. Current therapies primarily target inflammation using immunosuppressive treatments. However, many patients still endure intestinal fibrosis (the development of scar tissue), necessitating surgery. Researchers from KU Leuven’s TARGID Research Centre aim to unravel the underlying fibrosis process to explore potential prevention and treatment avenues. KU Leuven has received a $2.8 million grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust for this endeavor.

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, characterized by flare-ups and remission cycles, leading to symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, and weight loss. Although its exact cause remains unclear, CD likely involves a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and immune factors. Despite advancements in treatment options, including medications and surgeries, managing CD remains challenging, highlighting the critical need for ongoing research.

KU Leuven researchers will focus on a major CD complication: intestinal fibrosis. While current CD therapies induce remission in about 30% of patients, recurrent flares followed by remission periods lead to scar tissue formation. Scar tissue can cause fibrostenosis, which can lead to bowel obstruction and other complications that require surgical intervention due to the lack of anti-fibrotic drugs. Over 50% of CD patients require surgical bowel resections to address fibrotic strictures or related complications.

“There is an urgent need to validate novel therapeutic opportunities to inhibit or prevent fibrosis in Crohn’s disease patients. Moreover, effective anti-fibrotic therapies are a fundamental medical necessity, and advancements in this field may benefit multiple diseases affecting various organs, including the liver, lungs, heart, kidneys, and skin,” says Prof. Gianluca Matteoli, KU Leuven.

Interestingly, CD features fat accumulation at the external side of the intestine in the form of creeping fat, which is associated with fibrosis. This observation has led to the hypothesis that excess lipids in these regions may trigger a cascade of events culminating in fibrosis.

“Utilizing cutting-edge techniques and methodologies, we aim to better understand the intricate interplay between lipid metabolism and fibrosis. Additionally, we expect to identify potential targets for anti-fibrotic therapies, offering hope to CD patients to reduce the need for surgical interventions,” stated Prof. Guy Boeckxstaens, UZ/KU Leuven.

“By elucidating the molecular mechanisms driving this complication, we will pave the way for developing novel therapeutic strategies that could revolutionize clinical management and enhance the quality of life for CD patients and individuals with other fibrotic diseases,” concludes Prof. Severine Vermeire, UZ/KU Leuven.

The project has received a $2.8 million grant from the Helmsley Charitable Trust and will run over 24 months.

“The lack of treatment options for people facing complications from fibrosis is a major unmet need for people with Crohn’s disease. We are excited to support this project that aims to identify key contributors of fibrosis towards new therapies,” said Elena Lucchetta, Program Officer at the Helmsley Charitable Trust.