DeCure's autonomous Immuno AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for lymphocytic colitis — screening already-approved drugs against its 5-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleLymphocytic colitis maps to a 5-gene Open Targets module — the target space DeCure's AI scientist screens approved drugs against.
DeCure.ai methodSignature reversal (LINCS) plus network proximity (STRING) rank already-approved drugs likely to perturb this module — the same engine that produces DeCure.ai's repurposing hypotheses.
Repurposing thesisScreening approved medicines against this disease module, then publishing the evidence for the strongest candidate. Known pharmacology and human exposure data make the first question sharper — they do not establish safety or efficacy in a new indication.
Research record
01
ResearchComing soon
Candidate research + dossier — target rationale, drug-repurposing thesis and evidence pack.proof: Published dossier + on-chain hash
02
ValidationComing soon
In-vitro biological validation at a contract research org (CRO).proof: CRO contract + in-vitro report
03
Peer review & paperComing soon
Peer-reviewed paper published open-access (preprint + journal).proof: DOI + open-access link + on-chain hash
Structures already discussed alongside lymphocytic colitis in the retrieved literature, rendered from public PubChem SMILES. Which drugs appear here reflects the evidence found, not a ranked prediction.
Molecular view
arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase (ALOX5) — ALOX5 is one of the genes in this disease's Open Targets module — part of the target space DeCure's repurposing candidates point at. The protein backbone is drawn as a cartoon. The structure has fe (ii) ion bound in it, shown as sticks.
Loading structure…
helix sheet iidrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 7TTK · 1.98 Å · ligand FE (II) ION (FE2). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Three cases from 1994 link lymphocytic colitis with chronic diarrhoea to long-term use of Cyclo 3 Fort, a phlebotonic drug used in France. In one patient, drug rechallenge induced mucosal immune cell activation, suggesting the colitis was secondary to chronic activation of the mucosal immune system by one or several drug components. No other drugs are mentioned in these abstracts.
A 2000 review states that lymphocytic colitis and collagenous colitis are clinicopathologic entities distinct from other forms of inflammatory bowel disease, but that their histologic features may also appear in other colitides. The review emphasises that strict adherence to diagnostic clinicopathologic criteria is needed to separate them from other inflammatory bowel disease.
A 2022 case report describes a patient with lymphocytic colitis who also developed severe lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia. The report notes that the course of lymphocytic colitis is usually mild, with periods of exacerbation and remission, and that chronic non-bloody diarrhoea dominates. It does not provide numbers of patients, response rates, or survival data.
No trial data, no controlled studies, and no evidence of any treatment efficacy appear in these abstracts. What is missing is any randomised trial design, any patient stratification, and any funding to investigate whether drug withdrawal or other interventions alter the disease course.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Gut · 1994 · 135 citations · open access
Drug induced lymphocytic colitis.
AbstractThree cases are presented of lymphocytic colitis with chronic diarrhoea concurrent with longterm use of Cyclo 3 Fort, a phlebotonic drug used in France. The histological and immunopathological features of lymphocytic colitis are described. We show that lymphocytic colitis is drug induced, particularly in one patient where the immunopathological features of mucosal immune cell activation were induced by drug rechallenge. It is concluded that lymphocytic colitis may be drug induced, secondary to a chronic activation of the mucosal immune system by one or several components of the drug.
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2017 · 77 citations · open access
Interventions for treating lymphocytic colitis
AbstractBACKGROUND: Lymphocytic colitis is a cause of chronic diarrhea. It is a subtype of microscopic colitis characterized by chronic, watery, non-bloody diarrhea and normal endoscopic and radiologic findings. The etiology of this disorder is unknown.Therapy is based mainly on case series and uncontrolled trials, or by extrapolation of data for treating collagenous colitis, a related disorder. This review is an update of a previously published Cochrane review. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of treatments for clinically active lymphocytic colitis. SEARCH METHODS: The MEDLINE, PUBMED and EMBASE databases were searched from inception to 11 August 2016 to identify relevant papers. Manual searches from the references of included studies and relevant review articles were performed.Abstracts from major gastroenterological meetings were also searched to identify research submitted in abstract form only. The trial registry web site www.ClinicalTrials.gov was searched to identify registered but unpublished trials. Finally, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and the Cochrane Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Functional Bowel Disorders Group Specialized Trials Register were searched for other studies. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized controlled trials assessing medical therapy for patients with biopsy-proven lymphocytic colitis were considered for inclusion DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data was independently extracted by at least two authors. Any disagreements were resolved by consensus. Data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat (ITT) basis. The primary outcome was clinical response as defined by the included studies. Secondary outcome measures included histological response as defined by the included studies, quality of life as measured by a validated instrument and the occurrence of adverse events. Risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for dichotomous outcomes. The methodological quality of included studies was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The overall quality of the evidence supporting the primary outcome and selected secondary outcomes was assessed using the GRADE criteria. Data were combined for analysis if they assessed the same treatments. Dichotomous data were combined using a pooled RR along with corresponding 95% CI. A fixed-effect model was used for the pooled analysis. MAIN RESULTS: Five RCTs (149 participants) met the inclusion criteria. These studies assessed bismuth subsalicylate versus placebo, budesonide versus placebo, mesalazine versus mesalazine plus cholestyramine and beclometasone dipropionate versus mesalazine. The study which assessed mesalazine versus mesalazine plus cholestyramine and the study which assessed beclometasone dipropionate versus mesalazine were judged to be at high risk of bias due to lack of blinding. The study which compared bismuth subsalicylate versus us placebo was judged as low quality due to a very small sample size and limited data. The other 3 studies were judged to be at low risk of bias. Budesonide (9 mg/day for 6 to 8 weeks) was significantly more effective than placebo for induction of clinical and histological response. Clinical response was noted in 88% of budesonide patients compared to 38% of placebo patients (2 studies; 57 participants; RR 2.03, 95% CI 1.25 to 3.33; GRADE = low). Histological response was noted in 78% of budesonide patients compared to 33% of placebo patients (2 studies; 39 patients; RR 2.44, 95% CI 1.13 to 5.28; GRADE = low). Forty-one patients were enrolled in the study assessing mesalazine (2.4 g/day) versus mesalazine plus cholestyramine (4 g/day). Clinical response was noted in 85% of patients in the mesalazine group compared to 86% of patients in the mesalazine plus cholestyramine group (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.28; GRADE = low). Five patients were enrolled in the trial studying bismuth subsalicylate (nine 262 mg tablets daily for 8 weeks versus placebo). There were no differences in clinical (P=0.10) or histological responses (P=0.71) in patients treated with bismuth subsalicylate compared with placebo (GRADE = very low). Forty-six patients were enrolled in the trial studying beclometasone dipropionate (5 mg/day or 10 mg/day) versus mesalazine (2.4 g/day). There were no differences in clinical remission at 8 weeks (RR 0.97; 95% CI 0.75 to 1.24; GRADE = low) and 12 months of treatment (RR 1.29; 95% CI 0.40 to 4.18; GRADE = very low). Although patients receiving beclometasone dipropionate (84%) and mesalazine (86%) achieved clinical remission at 8 weeks, it was not maintained at 12 months (26% and 20%, respectively). Adverse events reported in the budesonide studies include nausea, vomiting, neck pain, abdominal pain, hyperhidrosis and headache. Nausea and skin rash were reported as adverse events in the mesalazine study. Adverse events in the beclometasone dipropionate trial include nausea, sleepiness and change of mood. No adverse events were reported in the bismuth subsalicylate study. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Low quality evidence suggests that budesonide may be effective for the treatment of active lymphocytic colitis. This benefit needs to be confirmed by a large placebo -controlled trial. Low quality evidence also suggests that mesalazine with or without cholestyramine and beclometasone dipropionate may be effective for the treatment of lymphocytic colitis, however this needs to be confirmed by large placebo-controlled studies. No conclusions can be made regarding bismuth subsalicylate due to the very small number of patients in the study, Further trials studying interventions for lymphocytic colitis are warranted.
Advances in Anatomic Pathology · 2000 · 12 citations
Colonic Epithelial Lymphocytosis and Lymphocytic Colitis: Descriptive Histopathology Versus Distinct Clinicopathologic Entities
AbstractSummary: Lymphocytic colitis and collagenous colitis are clinicopathologic entities that are distinct from other forms of inflammatory bowel disease. However, some of their histologic features may be seen in other forms of colitis. Adherence to the diagnostic clinicopathologic criteria for lymphocytic and collagenous colitis will help separate them from other forms of inflammatory bowel disease.
Gastroenterology Review · 2022 · 0 citations · open access
Lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia in a patient with lymphocytic colitis
AbstractThe course of lymphocytic colitis (LC) is usually mild with periods of exacerbation and remission. Chronic non-bloody diarrhoea [1] dominates. In recent years significant findings with respect to the association of the gut intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) and various diseases have been observed [2]. We report the cause of LC with coexistence of severe lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia (LIP).
Disease module: DeepOracle (Open Targets). Structures: RDKit from PubChem SMILES. Literature: retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works (targeted per-candidate search), resolved on OpenAlex.
DeCure is a research and publication project, not medical advice and not a treatment. "DeCure for X" describes a research goal, not a claim that a cure exists. Backing a cure is a contribution to fund the research — it is not an investment, and confers no yield, royalty, equity or IP ownership. Papers are published open-access by the DeCure.ai DAO.
