G. van den Brink

Stem cells as potential novel therapeutic strategy for inflammatory bowel disease

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and mesenchymal stromal cell therapy are currently under investigation as novel therapies for inflammatory bowel diseases. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) are thought to repopulate the immune system and reset the immunological response to luminal antigens. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are cells that have the capacity to differentiate into wide variety of distinct cell lineages and suppress immune responses in vitro and in vivo. Recent results from animal models and early human experience in graft-versus-host disease but also Crohns Disease suggest that ex vivo expanded MSCs may have clinically useful immunomodulatory effects.

Lymphocytes populations in appendiceal lavage fluid predictive of IBD-related inflammation

Until recently the appendix was mostly seen as a rudimentary part of the human intestine, but nowadays it has been demonstrated to havea distinct immunological function. Reports are emerging linking this vermiform organ to the development of ulcerative colitis (UC) and a systematic review suggests that an appendectomy could modulate the disease course.1 In addition, various animal studies have shown that the removal of the appendix prevents the development of experimental colitis, which further supports this hypothesis.2,3

P063 Identification of novel non-transcriptionally acting glucocorticoid receptor ligands that suppress T cell activation but lack adipogenic activity

P063 Identification of novel non-transcriptionally acting glucocorticoid receptor ligands that suppress T cell activation but lack adipogenic activity A. Verhaar1 *, R. Dvorsky2, M. Wildenberg3, M. Lowenberg1, M. Peppelenbosch4, D.W. Hommes5, G. van den Brink1. 1Academic Medical Center, Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Structural Biology, Dortmund, Germany, 3Academic Medical Center, Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 4Erasmus MC, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 5University of California Los Angeles, Center for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Los Angeles, United States

P105 Active inflammation of the appendix in ulcerative colitis

observed in the reduction for the group previously treated with biologics (p 0.24). Conclusions: The availability of controlled clinical trials has allowed investigators to count on an additional tool for the treatment of the UC. In our population we found a decrease of the disease activity measured by the Mayo score with standard doses of ADA at 12 weeks. While ADA induces a clinical remission according to the Mayo Score, no statistically significant reduction was seen for the endoscopic index in the biologics naive group, so we must consider the extension and the disease activity for this group of patients.