Introduction

The optimal surgical approach to reduce recurrence rates after laparoscopic repair of paraesophageal hernia (PEH) is yet to be defined. The crural repair is challenged by both axial and transverse-lateral tension, which may compromise durability. The aim of this double-blind randomized clinical trial was to investigate whether a left-sided diaphragmatic relaxing incision in addition to standard crural repair and fundoplication reduces anatomical recurrence rates at one year postoperatively.

Aims & Methods

This study was conducted at two high-volume Swedish centers—Ersta Hospital (Stockholm) and Sahlgrenska University Hospital (Gothenburg)—between August 2019 and August 2023. Adult patients undergoing surgery for PEH were randomized 1:1 to either standard crural repair with total (360°) fundoplication (control) or the same procedure with the addition of a left-sided diaphragmatic relaxing incision covered by synthetic mesh (intervention). Patients with prior hiatal surgery, ASA class IV or above, type I hernia, major esophageal motility disorders, or any contraindication to fundoplication were excluded. Blinding for patients and assessors was maintained throughout follow-up. Pre- and postoperative assessments included computed tomography (CT), symptom questionnaires (Dakkak dysphagia score, Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale [GSRS]), and quality of life (QoL, RAND-36). The primary outcome was radiologically confirmed PEH recurrence at 12 months.

Results

Of 103 patients screened, 76 were randomized (38 per group). Baseline characteristics were well balanced. CT was completed in 72 patients (95%) at 12 months. The recurrence rate was 66% in the control group and 54% in the intervention group (p=0.313). Three patients in the intervention group had asymptomatic CT verified herniation at the site of the diaphragmatic incision. There were no differences in recurrence size distribution (<4 cm vs >4 cm) between groups. Postoperative symptom assessment revealed significant improvements in dysphagia, reflux, indigestion, and abdominal pain in both groups, without intergroup differences. Physical QoL (PCS) improved significantlywhereas mental QoL (MCS) remained unchanged. Two deaths occurred within 90 days postoperatively (1 per group), yielding a 90-day mortality of 2.6%. Other complications included mediastinal abscess (n=1, intervention group) and need for postoperative endoscopic dilatation (n=5 in total). Operation time tended to be longer in the intervention group (150 vs 133 min; p=ns).

Conclusion

In this randomized, double-blind trial, the addition of a left-sided diaphragmatic relaxing incision to standard laparoscopic PEH repair did not improve anatomical recurrence rates, symptom relief or QoL at 12 months after surgery and should not be recommended for routine use. Alternative strategies to improve recurrence rates after PEH need to be explored in the future.

Introduction

Very early onset inflammatory bowel disease (VEO-IBD) is often associated with a severe disease course and unique characteristics including an underlying monogenic defect. In this study, we identified new pathogenic mutations in CGNL1 associated with VEO-IBD and other inflammatory GI disease. CGNL1 (Cingulin Like 1) encodes an epithelial junctional protein whose function was previously unknown in the gastrointestinal tract.

Aims & Methods

Whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed on the affected patient with VEO-IBD and all first-degree relatives with IBD and other inflammatory disease. Intestinal epithelial organoids (IEOs) were generated from the affected patient and were characterized by transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), FITC-dextran permeability assay on epithelial cell monolayer, immunostaining, RNA sequencing, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In addition, we generated a new Cgnl1^-/- mouse model, which was characterized using FITC-dextran permeability assay, TEM, dextran-sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis, and infections by Citrobacter rodentium and Clostridioides difficile. Single-cell datasets were analyzed to determine CGNL1 expression in IBD, primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH).

Results

In the affected patient with VEO-IBD who required early total colectomy and pouch formation with coexistent PSC and celiac disease, WES identified two rare, new, pathogenic variants in the CGNL1 gene. Both pathogenic variants were also present in the patient’s younger sister, who has a similar history including early-onset, fulminant ulcerative colitis requiring total colectomy with ileostomy and PSC-AIH overlap syndrome. Furthermore, multiple relatives of the patient suffer from IBD and other inflammatory conditions including celiac disease, eosinophilic esophagitis, and type-1 diabetes. The RNA and protein levels of CGNL1 were significantly diminished in the patient’s intestinal epithelial cells compared to that of healthy individuals and other IBD patients by RNA-seq, immunoblotting, and immunostaining. The patient’s IEOs from pouch body and pre-pouch ileum formed smaller 3D spheroids with altered cell composition and significantly impaired barrier function compared to those from healthy controls and other IBD patients. Immunofluorescence and TEM demonstrated that CGNL1 is required for the assembly of junctional complexes in human IEOs and an epithelial cell line. Similarly to findings from the patient, impaired junctional complexes in intestinal epithelial cells and elevated intestinal permeability were present in Cgnl1^-/- mice at steady state. Cgnl1^-/- mice showed substantial vulnerability to DSS-induced colitis and bacterial infections that directly compromise the epithelial barrier. In addition, 6-month-old Cgnl1^-/- mice exhibited spontaneous inflammation in the colon and terminal ileum due to disrupted intestinal barrier, which was microbiome-dependent. Furthermore, single-cell analysis revealed diminished expression of CGNL1 in the intestinal and hepatic epithelial cells from patients with IBD or PSC/AIH, respectively.

Conclusion

The pathogenic CGNL1 variants contribute to VEO-IBD by disrupting gut barrier integrity, as demonstrated by patient’s cells and novel murine models. This study expands our understanding of epithelial barrier impairment in the pathogenesis of VEO-IBD, and highlights intestinal epithelium as a therapeutic target in some IBD patients.

Introduction

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) induces epithelial DNA damage and genomic instability to promote gastric carcinogenesis. Ubiquitination modifications mediate the specific degradation of intracellular proteins and broadly regulate cellular life activities. However, the molecular mechanism by which H. pylori infection drives the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM47 to promote gastric mucosal carcinogenesis remains unclear.

Aims & Methods

This study employed gastric cancer cells, gastric organoids, human tissues, and mouse models. H. pylori infection was established in both in vitro and in vivo models. Functional and mechanistic investigations were conducted using Western blotting, qRT-PCR, co-immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry to explore the role of H. pylori in promoting DNA damage in gastric epithelial cells through TRIM47-mediated ubiquitination and degradation of STAT1.

Results

Validation in human cells, gastric organoids, and gastric tissues revealed that H. pylori upregulates TRIM47 expression via its virulence factor CagA. Knockdown of TRIM47 in cells significantly suppressed H. pylori-induced DNA damage. Ubiquitination proteomic sequencing and subsequent validation demonstrated that TRIM47 degrades STAT1 via ubiquitination, with the TRIM47 RING domain serving as a critical functional site. Overexpression of TRIM47 in gastric organoids markedly attenuated H. pylori-induced STAT1 activation.

Conclusion

This study identifies the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM47 as a critical mediator of H. pylori-induced DNA damage in gastric epithelial cells. TRIM47 promotes gastric mucosal lesions following H. pylori infection by facilitating STAT1 ubiquitination and degradation.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Introduction

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified more than 250 risk variants linked to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Most genetic variants increase the risk of disease onset, and their impact on clinical presentation is limited.^1,2,3 Variants in NOD2 and IL23R not only modulate the risk of disease onset, but also influence disease behaviour and localisation. Their role in predicting treatment response remains unclear.^3,4
A variant in an intron of TNRC18 (rs7486781, allele frequency 3.6%) was recently identified as having a strong risk-increasing effect (OR 3.2, p=2.4x10-61) for IBD in the FinnGen biobank study. The same allele was also associated with a risk for ankylosing spondylitis (AS), uveitis and psoriasis.⁵ The functional effect of rs7486781 is not yet fully established.⁶

Aims & Methods

The FinnGen biobank study includes the genotype data of 520 000 individuals and their longitudinal register data from national health registers, including 11 298 individuals with verified diagnosis for IBD. The data also include drug purchases, procedure codes and laboratory measurements of the individuals.
Our aim was to study the impact of the TNRC18-variant on IBD phenotype, particularly disease behavior. We assessed established aspects of disease severity⁷: use of immunosuppressants and advanced therapies, necessity to switch medications, frequent use of corticosteroids and risk of procedures. We also evaluated the presence of extraintestinal manifestations (EIM) and other disease complications.

Results

Regarding disease severity, the use of therapies beyond 5-ASA was more common among variant carriers; the use of thiopurines and other immunosuppressants (OR 1.21-1.27, p-values 1.35x10^-5 - 0.00849), ustekinumab and other IL-inhibitors (OR 1.46-1.48, p-values 0.00324 - 0.00286) and TNF-α-inhibitors (OR 1.26, p=0.00753) was more frequent.
In addition, perianal and anal canal operations were more prevalent with TNRC18 variant carriers (OR 2.44, p=1.41x10^-4), indicating perianal disease.
Assessing EIM, we observed that diagnoses for AS and uveitis (OR 1.62-1.67, p=1.3x10^-5 - 1.55x10^-4) were more frequent within IBD in patients with rs7486781.
Interestingly, a reduced risk of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) was implicated by lower number of cholangitis (K83.0) diagnoses (OR 0.617, p=0.00221) and fewer purchases of ursodeoxycholic acid (OR 0.55, p=2.83x10^-5), in addition to lower levels of ALP (mean 75 vs 82, p=0.00296), IgG4 (mean 0.45 g/l vs 0.81 g/l, p=4.81x10^-5) and IgM (0.12 vs 0.15, p=0.00115) among variant carriers. All events survived the false discovery rate–adjusted p threshold of 0.05.
Our results also suggest that the cumulative risk for IBD related procedures⁸ (patients with procedures n=2209) from diagnosis and birth were elevated in TNRC18 variant carriers (HR=1.12 and HR=1.14, p=0.050 and p=0.023, assuming additive effect) using a Cox regression model.
Finally, our results in ulcerative colitis indicate that TNRC18 variant carriers are at higher risk of transitioning from 5-ASA/immunomodulators to biologics/JAK-inhibitors (HR=1.38, p=0.016). Variant carriers receiving immunomodulators or advanced therapies were not, however, in increased risk of colectomy (HR~0.97-1.34, p~0.86-0.37).

Conclusion

TNRC18 variant was associated with greater risk of operative treatment, the need of more advanced medication and perianal disease. AS and uveitis were more common EIMs, but PSC appeared less infrequent. Our preliminary results indicate that TNRC18 variant carriers might benefit from early intervention with immunomodulators or advanced therapies.

References

1. Chang, J. T. Pathophysiology of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. N Engl J Med 383, 2652–2664 (2020).

2. Cleynen, I. et al. Inherited determinants of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis phenotypes: a genetic association study. Lancet 387, 156–167 (2016).

3. Atreya, R. & Neurath, M. F. Biomarkers for Personalizing IBD Therapy: The Quest Continues. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 22, 1353–1364 (2024).

4. Kayali, S. et al. NOD2 and Crohn’s Disease Clinical Practice: From Epidemiology to Diagnosis and Therapy, Rewired. Inflamm Bowel Dis 31, 552–562 (2025).

5. Kurki, M. I. et al. FinnGen provides genetic insights from a well-phenotyped isolated population. Nature 613, 508–518 (2023).

6. Rahimov, F. et al. A genome-wide CRISPR screen supported by human genetics identifies the TNRC18 gene locus as a novel regulator of inflammatory signaling. bioRxiv 2023.10.04.560902 (2023) doi:10.1101/2023.10.04.560902.

7. Swaminathan, A. et al. The Disease Severity Index for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Is a Valid Instrument that Predicts Complicated Disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis 30, 2064–2075 (2024).

Disclosure

Anna Aarni: Speaker fee from Abbvie, Clinic visit: travelling expenses from Tillots Pharma

Pauliina Molander: Speaker, consultancy and advisory board member fees from Abbvie, Johnson & Johnson, Lilly, Pfizer and Takeda. Clinic visit: traveling expenses from Tillots Pharma

Jukka Koskela: Pfizer-FinnGen genetic advisory board, traveling, clinic and congress visits: FinnGen partners, Tillots Pharma, Takeda, consulting: Pfizer