T-cells are the guardians of our immune system. When they show changes, it can lead to severe inflammatory responses in the body. It is believed that the T-cells in persons who are affected by inflammatory bowel disease don’t work properly. Two proteins that can be found on activated T-cells and that interact with each other are now being analyzed. Dr. Britt-Sabina Petersen researches one of the corresponding genes at the Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Medical Faculty at the University of Kiel, Germany. In this conversation with MEDICA.de, she elaborates on her findings on the TIM-3 molecule. Dr. Petersen, how many people are approximately affected by inflammatory bowel disease, IBD in short?Britt-Sabina Petersen: There are approximately 320,000 people, who are affected by IBD in Germany. On a global scale, industrialized nations are affected in particular. There are far less affected patients in the developing nations. This is why researchers have long since...
Read more in the interview wit Dr Petersen at MEDICA.de: http://www.medica-tradefair.com/CED_Gen_Interview_ToM_January_2015
More about this topic you can find in our Topic of the Month January: The intestines – our multifaceted insides