Analyzing IBS to Identify Biomarkers and Microbiome Signatures

A New Dimension in Modeling Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) to Elucidate Novel Diagnostic Biomarkers and Microbiome Signatures

Microbiota from fecal samples from IBS-D patients, in combination with vitamin D supplementation added to our 3-D immunocompetent intestinal models will establish a high fidelity disease model to achieve our long-term goal to understand the relationship between gut microbiome, vitamin D levels, host gene expression and IBS-D symptoms that could ultimately be used as a testing platform for treatment and prevention.

The pathophysiology of IBS is not well understood. Preliminary studies support IBS-D patients with varied microbiome fingerprints, vitamin D levels, and blood serotonin levels compared to non-IBS patients. The investigators have novel 3-D immunocompetent intestinal models to establish a new model of high fidelity disease to examine the relationship of IBS-D patients gut microbiome, with supplemental vitamin D levels, and the relationship of blood serotonin and vitamin D levels. IBS-D patients and healthy controls will be asked to provide a fecal sample, a biopsy sample of colonic tissue obtained during a clinically appropriate flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy, and a blood sample. There will be 1-2 office visits. One visit will last 30 minutes, the second visit no longer than 3 hours. This study is funded by a combined MAYO-Arizona State University seed grant. The samples will be analyzed at ASU. Our long-term goal is to understand the relationship between gut microbiome, vitamin D levels, host gene expression, serotonin levels, and IBS-D symptoms that could ultimately be used as a testing platform for treatment and prevention of this highly prevalent disorder.

Subjects on this arm will have an endoscopy for tissue biopsy, and provide blood samples and stool samples.

Subjects on this arm will have an endoscopy for tissue biopsy, and provide blood samples and stool samples.

2 blood vials will be drawn during the flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy procedure, and serotonin levels will be drawn from one of these blood samples.

Inclusion criteria: IBS-D subjects: Patients who fulfill IBS-D criteria, without causes of active inflammation. active symptoms for at least 2 months diagnosed at least 6 months prior to enrollment Healthy Control: - Healthy control patients should have no active infection or inflammation. Exclusion criteria: does not meet inclusion criteria will not participate in blood draw, stool sample donation, or endoscopy history of acute illness within 3 months of testing any fecal transplant history