Crohn's Disease
Researchers have developed a blood test that detects an elevated immune response to gut bacteria, signaling the risk of Crohn's disease years before symptoms appear. The test, focusing on antibodies to flagellin from Lachnospiraceae bacteria, was identified through a study of healthy relatives of Crohn's patients. This discovery could enable earlier interventions to prevent the condition's progression.
Reported by AI Fact checked
UC San Diego researchers combined machine learning with molecular and animal studies to show that the immune sensor NOD2 pairs with the protein girdin (also known as GIV/CCDC88A) to keep intestinal inflammation in check; a common Crohn’s-associated frameshift in NOD2 disrupts this binding and tips macrophages toward pro-inflammatory states. The peer‑reviewed findings were published October 2, 2025, in the Journal of Clinical Investigation and validated in mouse colitis and sepsis models.