Neutrophils Producing Unusual Protein DUOX2 May Fuel Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Recent research has uncovered a surprising activity of immune cells known as neutrophils—these cells are typically tasked with fighting infections and cleaning up damaged tissues. However, scientists have found that, in individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, some neutrophils begin producing a protein called DUOX2—something they normally do not do. This de novo expression of DUOX2 can lead to an overproduction of reactive chemicals that cause inflammation, damaging the intestinal lining and exacerbating the disease.

A comprehensive international study led by Professor Ulla Knaus from University College Dublin's School of Medicine and Conway Institute has demonstrated this phenomenon. Their findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, indicate that excess DUOX2 may directly contribute to gut inflammation by triggering damaging chemical responses. The study employed various methods, including gene expression analysis and immunofluorescence imaging, to show that DUOX2 is expressed in neutrophils within the intestinal tissue of IBD patients, as well as in blood samples.

The discovery opens new avenues for targeted therapies. Dr. Ashish Singh, the first author, explained that inhibiting DUOX2 production in neutrophils could potentially reduce the harmful chemicals responsible for intestinal damage. Such interventions might help manage or prevent flare-ups in IBD. Moreover, Prof. Knaus highlighted that this mechanism might also be relevant to other forms of acute inflammation across different organs, offering broader implications for drug discovery.

This breakthrough enhances our understanding of the immune system's role in gut inflammation and points toward innovative strategies for treating inflammatory bowel diseases by targeting neutrophil activity and DUOX2 expression.