It is well-established that mutations make the gut lining cells more vulnerable to damage in Crohn’s disease. But ever wondered how norovirus, a common infection that causes vomiting and diarrhea, triggers the onset of Crohn’s disease ? A recent study has revealed for the first time that in healthy individuals, T cells secrete a protein called apoptosis inhibitor five (API5), which signals the immune system to halt the attack on the cells of the gut lining, thereby offering protection against immune damage.
This indicated that individuals with the mutations could also have a healthy gut if their T cells secrete API5. Further, the researchers found that norovirus infection blocks the secretion of API5 by T cells in mice with a rodent form of Crohn's disease, killing gut-lining cells. This was confirmed when they found 5-10 fold fewer API5-producing T cells in the gut tissues of patients…
