Urolithin A Triggers Gut Repair Pathway in IBD Study — SkimNews
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- University of Louisville researchers found that urolithin A (UroA), produced by gut bacteria from foods including pomegranates, walnuts, and berries, selectively activates the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) in intestinal epithelial cells.
- UroA triggers the NLRP6 inflammasome — typically linked to harmful inflammation — prompting gut lining repair, barrier reinforcement, increased protective mucus, and stronger antimicrobial defenses.
- The study was led by Venkatakrishna Rao Jala, associate professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and UofL's Brown Cancer Center, and published in Nature Communications.
- Lead investigator Sweta Ghosh stated that 'not all inflammatory pathways are harmful,' noting that under the right conditions and in the right cells they support tissue repair.
- Researchers confirmed the mechanism in cell studies, organoid models, and intestinal tissue samples from IBD patients, with UroA activating the same protective pathway in human tissue.
- The findings point to future IBD treatments that target specific protective pathways in selected cell types rather than broadly suppressing the immune system.
- The work builds on Jala's earlier research identifying beneficial effects of UroA in the gut, now explaining more precisely how the compound interacts with the immune system.
Why it matters: For the millions of people worldwide with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, the finding points toward treatments that restore intestinal balance rather than broadly suppressing the immune system. Because the mechanism was validated in actual IBD patient tissue samples, not just cell or organoid models, the research narrows the gap between lab discovery and clinical application.
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