Faculty of 1000 (F1000): Article has been recommended as being of special significance in its field!
The article: Bacterial proteases in IBD and IBS., Gut, 2012 (DOI: 10.3410/f.717976753.793470513), has been recommended as being of special significance in its field by Johan Soderholm and Åsa Keita from the F1000 Faculty:
Johan Soderholm and Åsa Keita F1000 Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
12 Feb 2013 | Review / Commentary
DOI: 10.3410/f.717976753.793470513
This review by Steck et al. highlights the importance of bacteria-derived proteases, their mechanisms, and their involvement in gut diseases associated with inflammation. It is a noteworthy review since very little is known in this specific field and it compiles what is known in a very structured manner.
The current knowledge on proteases focuses on proteases originating from the host. Intriguingly, this review also focuses on proteases derived from bacteria. Steck et al. describe very well how these proteases are involved in gastrointestinal disorders like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome. Interestingly, the authors describe the role of commensal-derived proteases in epithelial barrier function, and how and when they are involved in IBD, which is very interesting from a clinical point of view.
It is known that patients with IBD have higher amounts of mucosa-associated bacteria and a thinner mucus layer. Bacteria have evolved several ways to disrupt the mucosal barriers, i.e. by enzymatic degradation of the mucus and downregulation of mucin production. Among other things, this review discusses how proteases can digest mucins within the mucus, which facilitates bacterial adherence to host cells, eventually leading to barrier disruption.
This review is important and worth reading since there are few reviews to date that involve the signalling mechanisms of proteases in IBD, and their potential role for disease susceptibility.
