Ineffective interleukin-10?

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that a small study of children with severe colitis has found a genetic mutation that reduced the effectiveness of interleukin-10 in their immune systems. Researchers are now considering whether a subset of adult Crohn's cases have a similar cause. If so, then a more direct treatment could be found.

One child in the study was completely cured by a bone marrow transplant. Although such transplants have been used for severe Crohn's cases, they are highly risky. This research should assist in determining the efficacy of such a treatment.

Interleukins have been implicated in Crohn's in the past, but this is the first study to target IL-10 in particular. It has been suggested that Crohn's is a blanket term for a variety of IBD conditions of various causes, and this research is another indication that this may be true.