Exploration of the Pathogenesis And New Therapeutic Opportunities for Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis and Related Ulcerative Colitis

Gut-Liver Immunopharmacology Unit

 

Project 5

Exploration of the Pathogenesis And New Therapeutic Opportunities for Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis and Related Ulcerative Colitis

Description

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a progressive cholestatic liver disease characterized by chronic inflammation and stricture formation of the medium and large ducts of the biliary tree. PSC is strongly associated with ulcerative colitis (UC), one of the two identities of inflammatory bowel disease. At present, it is unknown which mechanisms drive the coexistence of PSC and UC. The knowledge that colitis in patients with PSC and UC presents with unique features that are not present in UC patients without PSC and vice versa the higher risk for cholangiocarcinoma development in PSC-UC patients compared to non-UC PSC patients indicates more than merely a coexistence of both pathologies and forms the basis of this project. We will further investigate unique features of the shared PSC-UC pathology and explore causative pathways which may serve as therapeutic strategy for this disease for which, to date, optimal pharmacological treatment is lacking.

Contact

Lindsey Devisscher