NU 2011-025

Inventor

Alan Buchman*

Abstract

A Northwestern researcher has identified a new biomarker for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).  His study reveals that individuals with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis have increased levels of fecal neopterin, a metabolite of cyclic guanosine monophosphate, which is released by activated T-lymphocytes and macrophages following induction by -interferon.  Further, he has determined that IBD severity also significantly correlates with the level of fecal neopterin.  Among Crohn’s disease patients, fecal neopterin was higher in those with either clinically active or inactive disease than in healthy subjects. For ulcerative colitis patients, fecal neopterin concentration was higher in those with active disease than in those with inactive disease or healthy controls.  Neither serum nor urine neopterin concentrations were increased in patients with active IBD.

Applications

• Diagnosis of inflammatory bowel diseases
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Ulcerative colitis

Advantages

• Fecal Detection of biomarkers
• Non-invasive

IP Status

US patent and PCT applications have been filed.