What is ulcerative colitis?
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease affecting millions worldwide.
While traditional treatments focus on immune suppression, emerging research suggests a different root cause—oxidative stress, particularly involving hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) produced by the colon's epithelial cells.
While traditional treatments focus on immune suppression, emerging research suggests a different root cause—oxidative stress, particularly involving hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) produced by the colon's epithelial cells.
The role of hydrogen peroxide in ulcerative colitis
Oxidative stress occurs when there's an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the body's ability to detoxify them. In UC, studies have shown:
• Elevated levels of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in the colonic epithelium, which can damage cellular structures and compromise the intestinal barrier.
• Increased ROS production by immune cells like neutrophils and macrophages, leading to further inflammation and tissue damage. The emerging role of oxidative stress in inflammatory bowel disease
• Decreased antioxidant defenses, making it harder for the body to neutralize harmful free radicals.
• Increased ROS production by immune cells like neutrophils and macrophages, leading to further inflammation and tissue damage. The emerging role of oxidative stress in inflammatory bowel disease
• Decreased antioxidant defenses, making it harder for the body to neutralize harmful free radicals.
This oxidative environment can disrupt tight junctions between epithelial cells, allowing bacteria and toxins to penetrate the mucosal barrier, triggering immune responses and chronic inflammation.
A Shift in Perspective
Emerging research suggests that oxidative stress in the colon, including disruptions to cellular redox balance and barrier integrity, could be a central mechanism contributing to UC.
These insights are reshaping the scientific community’s approach to identifying causes and potential long-term solutions. Yet, many questions remain unanswered:
These insights are reshaping the scientific community’s approach to identifying causes and potential long-term solutions. Yet, many questions remain unanswered:
What are the precise molecular and environmental triggers of UC?
What preventive or restorative processes can the body naturally harness?
What preventive or restorative processes can the body naturally harness?
How does oxidative stress interact with the immune system and microbiome?
These are the kinds of questions UC Well is working to answer.
UC Well does not develop treatments—it empowers scientists to do the foundational work needed to uncover them. We are committed to supporting independent, hypothesis-driven research that seeks to understand the root causes of UC and explore new directions for therapy. Our funded projects aim to investigate the cellular and molecular origins of UC, examine the impact of oxidative stress and barrier dysfunction.
By focusing on the "why" behind the disease, UC Well provides the scientific community with the resources needed to find the "how" behind eventual cures and open the door to future, evidence-based therapeutic innovation.
Every donation to UC Well fuels vital early-stage research that might otherwise go unexplored. Your support enables researchers to pursue bold ideas that can lead to transformative insights for people living with ulcerative colitis.
Help us find a cure to ulcerative colitis
By donating you help our foundation reach its goals to find a cure to ulcerative colitis
