The Bacterial Secretome in IBD

Group 1 (healthy controls): n=20 Inclusion criteria: * Colonoscopy performed for the following indications: anemia, blood in stool, constipation, change in bowel habits, screening for colon cancer, follow up after polyps, weight loss * Macroscopic normal colonoscopy except for diverticulosis (without any signs of inflammation), ≤ 3 polyps (except hyperplastic polyps of the colon and rectum), angiodysplasia Exclusion criteria: * Diagnosis of IBD or any other inflammatory condition of the small and large intestine * Diagnosis of IBS * Autoimmune disorders * Obesity (BMI\> 30) * Regular intake of NSAIDs (\> 2 tablets/ week), immunosuppressants * Intake of antibiotics within the last 3 months * Intestinal infection by enteric pathogens * Probiotic therapy Group 2 (Crohn´s disease; CD): n= 20 (10 active CD; 10 inactive CD) Inclusion criteria: * Colonoscopy indicated by routine clinical care * Established diagnosis of Crohn´s disease (also if established by the study colonoscopy) Exclusion criteria: • Intestinal infection by enteric pathogens Definition of active CD Harvey-Bradshaw Index - HBI ≥ 5 and / or Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn Disease (SES-CD) ≥ 3 Except SES-CD scores resulting from isolated lesions only located at the ileocolonic anastomosis consistent with a modified Rutgeerts score i2a (these patients are considered as endoscopically non active) Definition of inactive CD Harvey-Bradshaw Index (HBI) \< 5 and Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn Disease (SES-CD) \< 3 Except SES-CD scores resulting from isolated lesions only located at the ileocolonic anastomosis consistent with a modified Rutgeerts score i2a (these patients are considered as endoscopically non active) Group 3 (Ulcerative colitis, UC): n= 20 (10 active UC; 10 inactive UC) Inclusion criteria: * Colonoscopy indicated by routine clinical care * Established diagnosis of ulcerative colitis (also if established by the study colonoscopy) Exclusion criteria: • Intestinal infection by enteric pathogens Definition of active UC Total Mayo score ≥ 3 and Endoscopic Mayo subscore ≥ 2 Definition of inactive UC Total Mayo score \< 3 and Endoscopic Mayo subscore 0 or 1. Group 4 (Colorectal cancer): n= 10 Inclusion criteria: • Diagnosis of a lesion with suspicion for colorectal cancer during endoscopy which is confirmed later by histology Exclusion criteria: • None Group 5 (Colitis/Enteritis of different origin): n= 20 Inclusion criteria: * Diagnosis of intestinal inflammation at endoscopy or histology * E.g.: Infectious colitis /enteritis; ischemic Colitis; microscopic colitis; GVHD; NSAID colitis; Colitis of unknown cause Exclusion criteria: • None