Modeling Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease usually presents in early adulthood. Patients have a markedly reduced quality of life and a 5 to 7-fold increased risk for developing colorectal cancer. Currently no cure & cause is poorly understood.
Canterbury Prevalence of CD: 155 / Incidence of CD: 16.5 / Gearry et al. 2006
MAP is the causative agent of Johne’s disease in ruminants. Johne’s disease is characterised by chronic intestinal inflammation. Studies report increased molecular & microbiological evidence of MAP in Crohn’s disease patients. Does MAP infection have a role in the aetiology of Crohn’s disease? Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP)
Model: Interleukin-10 gene-deficient mice Rationale for using this model Normal intestinal epithelium provides a barrier relatively impermeable to luminal constituents. Patients with IBD experience enhanced intestinal permeability that correlates with degree of injury. IL10 -/- mice develop a primary intestinal permeability defect in response to enteric microflora.
IL10 -/- mice Uninfected (naïve) (Mice 1-10) Infected (challenged with MAP) (Mice 11-20) Specific pathogen free (SPF) mice Housed in micro-isolator cages Assessed weekly for 20 weeks
Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) Weight loss > 5% Diarrhoea Excreted perianal mucous Rectal prolapse
MouseJejunumAsc. colonCaecumDesc. colonTOTALLymph nodeLiver Inflammation score: Uninfected Infetced
Mouse 15Mouse 4 Potential model of inflammation-induced colon cancer.