Ex-vivo Modulatory Effect of Biological Drugs for Inflammatory Bowel Disease on the Mucosa and on Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

To characterize circulating DC subsets from healthy controls and IBD patients and to assess, following an ex vivo challenge, the effect of anti-TNF (infliximab, adalimumab and golimumab), anti-p40 -IL-12/IL-23- (ustekinumab) and anti-α4β7 (vedolizumab) immunomodulators on both the GI production of soluble immune mediators and the mucosal capacity to alter the recruitment capacity of circulating DC subsets. It is expected that such approach will provide further information on the action mechanisms of such therapies on IBD patients, allowing a better understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease and the identification of tissue-specific therapeutic targets, thus avoiding collateral problems associated with systemic immunomodulation.