Researchers identify CCDC88B as new target for IBD

In a paper published in Nature Communications, researchers at McGill University and others identified coiled-coil domain containing 88B (CCDC88B; CCDC88) as a potential target for inflammatory bowel disease.

In a mouse model of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced intestinal colitis, the researchers observed increased levels of CCDC88B mRNA and protein expression and recruitment of CCDC88B-positive lymphoid and myeloid cells to the inflammation site. In the DSS-induced colitis model, mice with CCDC88B knockout lost significantly less weight and had significantly longer colons following colitis induction compared with mice with normal CCDC88B expression. CCDC88B knockout also decreased inflammatory cell infiltration, pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine mRNA expression, submucosal edema, gland loss and surface erosion and ulceration in the colon compared with normal CCDC88B expression...