Mechanisms of Intestinal Adaptation Following Ileo-Cecal Resection

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn’s disease, involve chronic inflammation of the intestine, damage and distortion of tissue architecture, and loss of digestive, absorptive, and motility functions. Patients with severe IBD undergo surgical resection that leads to bowel loss; the remaining bowel adapts for this loss of absorptive mucosal surface.

Our laboratory uses a murine surgical model to understand the role of intestinal stem cells in sustaining the long-term adaptive response. Using this murine model, we are studying the roles of IGF-1, GLP-2 and other such molecules that may augment this adaptive response for a sustained benefit.