The gut, brain, and mind: Can we trat inflammatory bowel disease with antidepressants and psychedelics?
Sara Ibgui
Immunology
5th
5th
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a condition characterised by chronic relapsing inflammation within the intestines, affecting approximately 6.8 million people globally (Alatab, S et al., 2020). More commonly known are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, the two main subtypes. People with IBD have altered microbiomes, but it is unknown if this is a driving factor of IBD onset or vice versa. While current treatments reduce morbidity and improve the quality of life of IBD patients, they are strong immune-supressing drugs and increase the risk of contracting or developing additional diseases, highlighting the need for better therapeutics. The gut-brain axis (GBA) is a communication pathway that allows for bidirectional signalling. This research investigates the signalling pathways across the GBA, primarily exploring how the altered microbiota and neuroinflammation in IBD might be linked by serotonin signalling. Additionally, I propose how current serotonin-targeting drugs, such as antidepressants and psychedelics, might be used to treat IBD. Overall, this research highlights serotonergic signalling as a bridge between the gut and brain, and a novel therapeutic target for IBD.
Bio
I am a 5th year MSci Immunology student with a keen interest in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, such as IBD and rheumatoid arthritis. I am fascinated by the mechanisms that drive these diseases, and how we might use inter-disciplinary and multifactorial approaches to understand, prevent, and treat them. I spent last year on a placement in Blantyre, Malawi, researching HIV, SARS-CoV-2 and malaria. During this placement, I gained critical insight into the bridge between medical research and clinical treatments, as well as the invaluable experience that comes with living in a different country and integrating into a new culture. Above all, I am passionate about science outreach and public health, as this is my initial motivation for pursuing medical research. I hope that my research will help people gain insight into the complexities of how their bodies work and provide a new perspective to understanding health and disease.