PhD Theses

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), in addition to chronic inflammation of the intestines, is characterized by neurological symptoms, such as anxiety, depression and fatigue, but the underlying biological mechanism is not yet known. A possible explanation is that during intestinal inflammation in IBD, molecules are released that transmit signals from the intestines to the brain via the bloodstream, and that these signals persist, even when the intestinal inflammation is already under control. To test this hypothesis, mainly animal models or simplistic in vitro models are used. However, the differences between humans and animals or the excessive simplification of reality in vitro make it difficult to translate it to the human situation. Therefore, this PhD investigated how we can use new technologies, such as 3D printing of hydrogels and organ-on-chip platforms, to improve current in vitro models to mimic gut brain communication. In addition, it was studied whether extracellular vesicles originating from the intestinal epithelium can contribute to gut-brain communication during intestinal inflammation.