Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a hereditary disease which, in addition to a high risk of bowel cancer, also a greatly increased risk of duodenal cancer. At present, the only treatment available is close endoscopic monitoring with removal of the precursors, known as polyps, although this is also associated with an increased risk. "But there are no specific preventive therapies," says co-lead author Dr. Benjamin Krämer, Scientific Head of the Laboratory for Congenital Cellular Immunology at the UKB. "Since the severity of the disease varies greatly even among carriers of the same gene mutation, the search is on for other factors that influence the development of the disease - and the local immune system is becoming the focus of attention."
Neurotransmitter causes damage to the genetic material
The Bonn researchers have now discovered that certain cells of the innate immune system, known as type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3), are present in significantly higher numbers in the duodenum of FAP patients. "We found an increased number of these cells in the mucosa, particularly in the vicinity of polyps and cancerous areas," says co-lead author Dr. Robert Hüneburg, senior physician at the Medical Clinic I and the National Center for Hereditary Tumor Diseases at the UKB.
The Bonn research findings provide clues as to how these immune cells...