Using skin cells and gut samples to understand the brain-gut connection
The goal is to establish a model that allows us to understand a singular link between the gut and the brain as well as links relating to health problems such as IBS and depression. To achieve this, Örebro researcher Julia Rode will use samples from the gut and apply them to skin cells.
Julia Rode has been awarded SEK 400,000 in a programme for young researchers within the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism to develop the model.
20–25 healthy individuals who are also participating in other projects will be included in the study, which will continue until 2023.
“Today, we often don’t know what comes first. Suppose we understand the mechanisms behind the symptoms. In that case, we can understand where the problem first arises and solve it,” says Julia Rode, researcher in medicine at Örebro University, who has received a grant of SEK 400,000 from the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism for her research.
In the years ahead, Julia Rode’s goal is to be able to give patients personalised dietary advice – and through diet, affect both the stomach and the brain. Julia Rode wants to determine what different patients need to eat to feel better.
“For example, we know that many IBS patients have lower levels of serotonin, which is important for our well-being and happiness. We can appreciate that it would be appropriate for these patients to change their diet to enable their bodies to absorb more amino acids, producing neurotransmitters such as serotonin. But we are not there yet.”
Skin cells close substitute for brain cells
Julia Rode’s approach is to start from scratch and develop a model that allows skin cells to be exposed to samples from the gut and faeces.
“As brain cells cannot be collected, skin cells are the closest accessible substitute for brain cells. Skin and brain cells share many similarities, so skin cells are often used in brain-related research,” says Julia Rode.
Researchers will investigate how skin cells react to different gut samples in the new model. For example, some of the samples have had fibre added to them. The model will then allow researchers to investigate what is required to start healthy chains of amino acids and serotonin.
“The model will also be used for other research – so it is a key first step,” concludes Julia Rode.