RNA transcriptomics of healthy and PI-IBS colonic biopsies

A subset of post-infection irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS) patients have elevated, or high fecal proteolytic activity (PA). Fecal PA has been shown to correlate with increased symptom severity as well as lower quality of life scores, increased fecal output and increased intestinal permeability. To address the underlying mechanisms of barrier disruption as a consequence of high fecal PA, colonic biopsies were collected from healthy individuals PI-IBS patients (n=11). Individuals diagnosed with PI-IBS were further divided in to 2 subgroups, high PA and low PA as defined by the PA in matched fecal samples. RNA was extracted from the biopsies for bulk RNA sequencing to understand transcriptional differences between healthy and high PA PI-IBS patients as well as high PA and Low PA PI-IBS patients. Colonic biopsies were collected from healthy individuals (5) and PI-IBS patients (n=11). Healthy individuals provide a baseline transcriptomic profile of a normal colon and therefore used as a basis for understanding changes at the transcriptomic level in high PA PI-IBS patients. Additionally, low PA PI-IBS patients were included to understand transcriptional differences between high and low PA within the disease state.