P160 Integrative transcriptional analysis to identify predictive biomarkers for IBD severity and subtyping

Abstract

Abstract Background Conventional diagnostic strategies for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) heavily rely on invasive biopsy procedures and subjective questionnaires, thereby introducing intrinsic limitations in the context of precision medicine. By understanding the molecular mechanisms behind IBD disease biology, we aim to identify certain signalling pathways relevant for epithelial tissue regeneration under chronic inflammation conditions. Methods To address these limitations, we compared gene expression in a large cohort of IBD patients, utilizing the IBD Plexus database (Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, US) as well as other publicly available datasets. We further validated our results derived from the transcriptional programs by using patient derived advanced 3D-organoid models (Hospital of Nottingham, UK). These models, derived from ulcerated and normal tissue regions of IBD patients, serve as a sophisticated platform for robust validation, bridging the gap between molecular insights and clinical applications. Results Our primary objective was to discern putative biomarkers that are capable of effectively stratifying IBD subtypes. We further identified the genes that were upregulated exclusively in each subtypes and the gene signature that is elevated in inflamed samples compared to non-inflamed samples. We found that either the chemokine and interleukin (IL-17) signalling pathways which have known roles in recruitment of immune cells thereby perpetuating chronic inflammation and several key chemokines influence the integrity of the epithelial barrier function and regeneration. We are also analysing non-invasive biomarkers by using samples such as blood, plasma and stool and employ machine learning methods to correlate with established clinical indicators such as sCDAI, PRO2, PRO3, and MAYO categories. Conclusion Hence, in identifying specific targets we can introduce novel therapeutic strategies to mitigate inflammation and restore integrity of the gut epithelial barrier. With this research we aim to improve the current IBD diagnostics landscape as well propels it towards precision medicine by offering precise subtyping and predictive markers for disease severity, ultimately contributing to more personalised and effective therapeutics interventions.