Crohn's Ileitis Research Services

Crohn's ileitis, defined as inflammation of the ileum (the last part of the small intestine), is classically caused by Crohn's disease. Crohn's ileitis is thought to account for around 30% of cases of Crohn's disease. The symptoms for this type of Crohn's disease are very similar to the symptoms of ileocolitis. Typical symptoms include diarrhoea, cramping or pain in the right lower part of middle of the abdomen, significant weight loss, and fatigue. The treatment of Crohn's ileitis relies mainly on medication and surgery, but unfortunately these methods cannot completely cure this stubborn inflammatory bowel disease. Therefore, pharmaceutical companies need to conduct further research and develop more effective therapies to bring hope to patients suffering from this disease.

Fig. 1. The driving mechanisms of spontaneous ileitis development in mouse models. (Iliopoulou et al., 2022)

Customized Studies for Crohn's Ileitis

At Ace Therapeutics, we provide specialized preclinical Crohn's ileitis services to help clients investigate the pathophysiology of Crohn's ileitis and develop novel therapies.

Our team of experts will guide you through the study design process, ensuring that scientific questions are addressed and the appropriate experimental model is used. We provide customized models of Crohn's ileitis, target discovery, and drug efficacy evaluation services to advance Crohn's ileitis research.

Mouse Models of Crohn's Ileitis

Ace Therapeutics provides two mouse models of Crohn's-like ileitis. Both strains show striking similarities to active Crohn's ileitis, making them particularly relevant to the human condition and valuable resources for furthering Crohn's disease research.

SAMP1/YitFc Mouse Model of Crohn's-like Ileitis

SAMP1/YitFc ileitis is a truly spontaneous model of Crohn's ileitis because the model presents independent of any need for genetic, chemical, or immunologic manipulation, and closely resembles the human condition with regard to location, histologic features, and extra-intestinal manifestations. The disease occurs in virtually 100% of mice by 10 weeks of age and persists for up to 80 weeks. SAMP1/YitFc mice allow us to help clients:

• Understanding the pathogenic mechanisms that underlie the development and perpetuation of Crohn's disease.
• Characterizing specific new biomarkers, including microbiome and metabolomic markers.

The Tnf^ΔARE/+ Mouse Model of Crohn's-like Ileitis

Mice are generated by introducing a 69-bp targeted deletion of the ARE of Tnf into Sv/129-C57BL/6 mice. Mice homozygous for the deleted AU-rich element (Tnf^ΔARE/ΔARE) overexpress TNF messenger RNA and protein, and develop early severe Crohn's-like ileitis, limiting their lifespan to only 5-12 weeks. This model allows us to help clients understand the mechanisms of TNF-driven Crohn's-like ileitis and chronic inflammatory arthritis.

Preclinical Studies in Mouse Models of Crohn's Ileitis

The SAMP1/YitFc and Tnf^ΔARE/+ mouse models are particularly useful for understanding mechanisms of IBD pathogenesis that may uniquely lead to the development of Crohn's ileitis. We can conduct multiple studies using both models to accelerate our clients' drug discovery programs for Crohn's ileitis.

• Studying the role of IL12/IL23 and IL17 in SAMP1/YitFc and Tnf^ΔARE/+ mice.
• Determining the precise potential dysfunction of mucosal healing in both models and its contribution to the pathogenesis of IBD.
• NOD2 genetic deletion study in SAMP1/YitFc mice.
• A genome-wide scan of SAMP1/YitFc mice to define new predisposing genes.
• Developing novel noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging techniques to quantify intestinal inflammation in both SAMP1/YitFc and Tnf^ΔARE/+ mice.
• Evaluating the role of novel cytokines in experimental Crohn's-like ileitis.
• Studying the role of host-gut microbiome interactions and dysbiosis in the pathogenesis of CD-like ileitis in SAMP1/YitFc and Tnf^ΔARE/+ mice.

Through a wealth of animal models of Crohn's Ileitis and a dedicated drug development team, Ace Therapeutics strives to advance your research program and contribute to meaningful advances in Crohn's Ileitis research and therapies. Our leading scientists support project design and project implementation in your study from concept to completion. Contact us today and embark on your path to discovery.