At Ace Therapeutics, our irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) model customization service is tailored to meet the specific needs of researchers and pharmaceutical companies. We utilize advanced techniques to create representative models that reflect the diverse symptoms and pathophysiology of IBS. By offering flexible and professional solutions, we help our customers efficiently explore novel therapeutic targets and develop potential treatments.
What Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits, such as diarrhea or constipation. Pathologically, IBS involves dysregulation of the gut-brain axis, visceral hypersensitivity, and changes in the gut microbiota. It often presents without a detectable organic cause, making its diagnosis and treatment challenging.
Figure 1. Mediators that may be involved in the pathology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (Enck P., et al., 2016)
How Do We Customize IBS Models?
| Process |
Service Details |
| Animal Selection |
We help you select the most appropriate animal species based on the research objectives and the specific aspects of IBS being studied. Commonly used animal species for IBS models include mice and rats. These species offer advantages such as their genetic tractability, availability of transgenic models, and the ability to induce IBS-like symptoms through stress or chemical treatments. |
| Modeling Methods |
- Chemical-Induced Models
Intracolonic Irritants: Introducing chemicals such as mustard oil or capsaicin to induce inflammation and hypersensitivity.
Systemic Agents: Using drugs like dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) to induce gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Microbiota-Related Models
Antibiotic Treatment: Disrupting gut microbiota balance to study its impact on IBS.
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation: Introducing gut microbiota in IBS patients into germ-free or antibiotic-treated animals.
- Genetic Models
Transgenic Animals: Developing genetically modified animals to study the role of specific genes in IBS. |
| Custom IBS Subtypes |
- IBS-D (Diarrhea-Predominant): Induced using agents that accelerate gut transit or cause inflammation.
- IBS-C (Constipation-Predominant): Induced using stress models or agents that slow gut transit.
- IBS-M (Switch models that fluctuate between IBS-D and IBS-C states): Combining methods used for IBS-D and IBS-C.
|
| Commonly Used Animal Models |
Maternal Separation, TNBS Enema, and Chronic Restraint Stress-Induced Irritable Bowel Syndrome Model |
Our R&D Services for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Disease Mechanism Studies
Preclinical Drug Development
Biomarker Discovery
Microbiome Research
Genetic Studies
- Pathophysiological Research: Investigating the gut-brain axis, visceral hypersensitivity, and microbiota alterations.
- Molecular and Cellular Analysis: Identifying key molecular pathways and cellular interactions involved in IBS.
- Efficacy Testing: Assessing the effectiveness of new drugs in alleviating IBS symptoms.
- Safety Evaluations: Conducting thorough safety and toxicity assessments of potential treatments.
- Dose Optimization: Determining the optimal dosage and administration methods for therapeutic agents.
- Identification: Discovering and validating biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment response.
- Validation: Testing biomarkers in our models to ensure relevance and reliability.
- Microbiota Modulation: Exploring the role of gut microbiota in IBS and testing microbiome-targeted therapies.
- Fecal Microbiota Transplantation: Evaluating the effects of microbiota changes on IBS symptoms.
- Gene-Function Analysis: Investigating the role of specific genes in IBS pathogenesis using transgenic models.
- Genetic Modulation: Testing gene therapy approaches to correct IBS-related genetic dysfunctions.
Case Study │ Restraint Stress-induced IBS-D Model in Mice
Chronic restraint stress (CRS) is a non-invasive, highly translational rodent model used to induce Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-D). By simulating psychological and physical stress, this model triggers brain-gut axis dysfunction, resulting in persistent visceral hypersensitivity, accelerated gastrointestinal motility, and intestinal barrier disruption, mimicking key clinical symptoms of human IBS-D.
Species: C57BL/6 Mice
Sex: Female
Age: 6-8 Weeks
Weight: 18-22 g
Female C57BL/6 mice were subjected to a partial restraint protocol for 2 hours daily over 14 consecutive days. Restraint was applied to the upper torso and forelimbs using medical-grade tape to restrict movement without impeding breathing. Control animals remained unhandled in their home cages with ad libitum access to food and water. Model characterization and disease persistence were monitored up to 8 weeks post-induction.
- Model Validation & Readouts
Figure 2. Longitudinal monitoring of fecal water content
Figure 3. Evaluation of intestinal motility
Our customized IBS models at Ace Therapeutics are designed to provide comprehensive insights into the pathophysiology of IBS. By employing diverse modeling methods, selecting appropriate animal species, and accurately reflecting IBS classifications, we develop disease models tailored to our customers' specific research needs. If your organization seeks to gain new insights into IBS triggers and targets or accelerate the development of innovative treatments, please contact us.
Reference
- Enck P., et al. Irritable bowel syndrome. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2016, 2:16014.
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