Scientists uncover key cause of inflammatory bowel disease Published on: 17 June 2026 A decades-old puzzle has been solved as scientists uncover a key cause of inflammatory bowel disease, paving the way for faster diagnosis and more targeted patient treatments. Researchers at Â鶹´«Ã½’s Translational and Clinical Research Institute are part of a national team that have identified an important driver of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The discovery reshapes understanding of the condition and highlights that IBD is not a single disease, but a group of biologically distinct disorders driven by different underlying mechanisms. Sophie Hambleton, Professor of Paediatrics and Immunology at Â鶹´«Ã½, said: “This discovery shows how the study of rare, inherited disorders can shed new light on common conditions. “The groundwork was laid over 10 years ago when genetic defects in IL-10 or its receptor were found in young children with severe IBD. “Later, we realised that neutralising autoantibodies against IL-10 were mimicking this effect in two little girls with colitis. “Proving that anti-IL-10 autoantibodies operate in 1 in 30 patients with IBD has required the participation of thousands of patients and a large research team. “Now we have the opportunity to rethink treatment in this distinct subtype of disease.” Taking the brakes off inflammation in the gut In their study, published in the the team analysed more than 4,900 patients with IBD and made two major discoveries. Firstly, that a substantial subset of patients shows autoimmune responses to one of the guardians of the immune system, interleukin-10 (IL-10), leading to uncontrolled inflammation. Secondly, that this damaging immune response explains one of the strongest known genetic risk factors for IBD. Antibodies that block interleukin-10 (IL-10), a cell-to-cell messenger that normally acts as one of the body’s key controls on inflammation, effectively remove the immune system’s natural ‘brake’ on inflammation, allowing inflammatory responses to continue unchecked. IBD, which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, affects ~500,000 people in the UK and millions worldwide. It is a lifelong condition that commonly begins in adolescence or early adulthood and can require repeated hospital treatment, long-term immunosuppressive medication and, in some cases, surgery. Despite advances in treatment, many patients cycle through multiple therapies without achieving lasting disease control, impacting their lives and costing the healthcare system millions. The researchers found high levels of anti-IL-10 neutralising autoantibodies in the blood of ~3.5% of IBD patients, both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, but not in healthy individuals. This could equate to 15,000–20,000 people with IBD in the UK carrying these autoantibodies. The study also showed that the presence of these antibodies was strongly linked to carriage of a particular genetic variant known as HLA-DRB1*01:03. Professor Sophie Hambleton 30-year genetic link finally explained The link between HLA-DRB1*01:03 and a severe form of IBD was first identified by researchers in Oxford 30 years ago. Now the new findings show that people carrying this variant are far more likely to develop antibodies that block IL-10, helping explain how the gene contributes to disease. Professor Holm Uhlig, Paediatric Gastroenterologist and Director of the Centre for Human Genetics at the University of Oxford, and a senior author of the study, said: “We’ve suspected an important role of interleukin 10 in patients with inflammatory bowel disease for decades. “The study now provides clear evidence and contributes the missing link between a well-known genetic variant that had been linked to severe inflammatory bowel disease in the past and the very recently discovered autoimmunity to interleukin 10. “Understanding what drives the inflammation provides a clear explanation for disease in this group of people and opens the door to new treatments that target the autoantibodies themselves or cells that produce those autoantibodies.” The researchers say the findings support the development of a blood test to identify this subgroup of patients, helping clinicians move quickly towards more appropriate treatment. The findings represent an important step towards more personalised approaches to diagnosing and treating IBD, where treatment can be guided by the underlying biology of a patient’s disease rather than symptoms alone. Researchers from Â鶹´«Ã½, Oxford, and Cambridge led the study, supported by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centres in all three cities. Reference: IL-10 Autoantibodies and HLA-DRB101:03 in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Nima et al. New England Journal of Medicine. DOI: Share: Latest News Academic-directed film adaptation hits the big screen BAFTA-nominated Â鶹´«Ã½ academic Dr Tina Gharavi’s new film Virginia Woolf’s Night and Day opens in cinemas nationally. published on: 18 June 2026 Â鶹´«Ã½ ranked top 150 in the world Â鶹´«Ã½ has been ranked as a global top 150 university by an influential higher education guide. published on: 18 June 2026 Scientists uncover key cause of inflammatory bowel disease A decades-old puzzle has been solved as scientists uncover a key cause of inflammatory bowel disease, paving the way for faster diagnosis and more targeted patient treatments. published on: 17 June 2026 Facts and figures
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