Researchers at the Albany Medical College have found that transferring healthy T regulatory cells into young mice predisposed to Inflammatory Bowel Disease did not develop the disease.  The researchers created mice predisposed to IBD by purposely removing a key transcription factor (read protein) from T cells that prevents the T cells from continuously creating pro-inflammatory substances that damage healthy tissue.  Once such a mice has been created it typically develops a severe form of IBD.  After introducing healthy T cells into the mice, they did not go on to develop IBD.

This suggests a possible new treatment for those that suffer from Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.  The researchers are not yet ready to test the procedure on humans but that is the ultimate goal.  A quote from the article:

As a result of these findings, we feel a possible treatment for IBD should focus on transferring T regulatory cells and using their ability to suppress the immune response.  By doing so, we may be able to treat the underlying problems of IBD and not just their symptoms.

A link to this article can be found here.