Inflammatory bowel gene uncovered

Genetic variations which predispose people to a common inflammatory bowel condition have been uncovered by a team of German and UK researchers.

It was known that ulcerative colitis, which affects around 100,000 people in the UK, runs in families.

Now researchers have linked the condition with the gene that encodes for interleukin 10 (IL10) - a compound which regulates inflammation.

IL10 therapy has been tested in early studies, Nature Genetics reported.

Ulcerative colitis normally appears in people aged 15-30 and symptoms include bloody diarrhoea, abdominal pain, a frequent need to go to the toilet and weight loss.

Although symptoms can be mild, it can kill in severe cases if surgery is not performed in time.

Individuals with first-degree relatives who are affected are known to be at higher risk, but the individual genes involved had not been determined.

In the latest study, scientists scanned the whole genome in more than 1,000 people with the condition and 800 healthy controls.

Among a few gene differences, they found key variations in genetic regions directly alongside the IL10 gene.

"In light of these results, systemic or topical delivery of IL10 should be worthy of consideration for clinical trials," said study leader Professor Stefan Schreiber.

He added that further research on this area of the genome in colitis patients may point to as yet unknown drug targets.