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Johan D Söderholm

Professor

The role of mucosal barrier function in the initiation of intestinal inflammation

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are characterized by severe chronic intestinal inflammation bearing huge impact on the quality of life

Incidence is high and escalating, and current treatments lack in efficacy and safety. Our overall aim is to elucidate mechanisms of epithelial barrier function, its role in interacting with commensal bacteria, and how this communication can be converted to the induction of IBD.

The studies will be based on our specific expertise and unique methodology (micro systems for studies of gut physiology in endoscopic biopsies; availability to inflamed and normal human intestinal mucosa), complemented with know-how from international and national partners to guarantee proficiency in all details. Recent original findings from our laboratory have demonstrated neuropeptide-releasing eosinophils as a previously missing link in the regulation of the epithelial barrier in ulcerative colitis. The importance of the follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) in Crohn¿s disease has also been established.

In the planned projects we anticipate providing novel data on neuro-immune interaction with gut microbiota and probiotics at the frontline, i.e. the intestinal barrier (including FAE, mast cells, and eosinophils) during inflammation and stress. We will thereby increase the understanding of crucial steps in the pathogenesis of IBD and disease relapse, ultimately leading to novel therapeutic approaches for these debilitating diseases.

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Collaborators

Publications

2024

Martin Rejler, Johannes David Fuchtbauer, Loa G. Daviosdottir, Anja Fejrskov, Johan D Söderholm, Robin Christensen, Vibeke Andersen, Dirk Repsilber, Jens Kjeldsen, Marte Hoivik, Jonas Halfvarson (2024) Nordic inflammatory bowel disease treatment strategy trial: protocol for the NORDTREAT randomised controlled biomarker-strategy trial BMJ Open, Vol. 14, Article e083163 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Anja Fejrskov, Johannes David Fuchtbauer, Loa G. Daviosdottir, Jonas Halfvarson, Marte Lie Hoivik, Michael Dam Jensen, Joachim Hog Mortensen, Lene Nyholm Nielsen, Martin Rejler, Dirk Repsilber, Johan D Söderholm, Claus Aalykke, Vibeke Andersen, Robin Christensen, Jens Kjeldsen (2024) Novel biomarker profiles to improve individual diagnosis and prognosis in patients with suspected inflammatory bowel disease: protocol for the Nordic inception cohort study (NORDTREAT) BMJ Open, Vol. 14, Article e083144 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Maria Ling Lundstrom, Christer Peterson, Charlotte R. H. Hedin, Daniel Bergemalm, Maria Lampinen, Maria K. Magnusson, Åsa V. Keita, Robert Kruse, Carl Marten Lindqvist, Dirk Repsilber, Mauro D'Amato, Henrik Hjortswang, Hans Strid, Johan D Söderholm, Lena Ohman, Per Venge, Jonas Halfvarson, Marie Carlson (2024) Faecal biomarkers for diagnosis and prediction of disease course in treatment-naïve patients with IBD Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

Research Area

Organisation