Edinburgh woman’s hope as scientists identify cause of Crohn’s scarring
A retired Edinburgh primary school teacher who has had four surgeries due to Crohn’s disease has said new research into the condition could be a “complete game-changer”.
Maureen Dalgleish, 65, was first diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 1988, aged 28.
Since then, she has surgery four times – in 2001, 2006, 2013 and 2025 – to manage fibrosis in her bowel, related to the condition.
She has also spent long periods of her life on either a liquid diet or a heavily restricted diet, including after surgery, to help manage symptoms.
Before her most recent surgery she suffered terrible abdominal pain and spasms, leading to nausea, fever, dizziness and even loss of consciousness.
She was invited to donate tissue from her surgery to the research led by a University of Edinburgh team and said she was pleased to take part in the hope of helping others with the condition.
The 65-year-old, from Edinburgh, said: “Before my surgery, I was in and out of hospital and it was incredibly exhausting. It can feel like your life is on hold.
“But I’ve learnt to plan my life around things and try not to let the condition stop me.
“The idea of having medication to control or stop the fibrosis would be amazing.
“Although I realise it probably won’t benefit me personally, this research could potentially be a complete game-changer for others like me. I wanted to get involved in the research to help them.”
She said she is really grateful to the “marvellous team” at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh who have looked after her.
The retired teacher has noticed huge advances in the diagnosis and treatment of Crohn’s in the decades she has lived with it.
However it is understood surgery currently remains the only option to help with the fibrosis as after each surgery to remove the damaged portion of the bowel, the disease re-starts and eventually the tissue becomes scarred again, leading to blockages.
The research team analysed intestinal tissue samples from patients with Crohn’s disease, focusing on the ileum, the final part of the small intestine where the condition most commonly occurs. They found significantly higher levels of fibrosis and immune cell activity compared with healthy tissue, particularly in a deeper layer of the bowel wall known as the submucosa.
Using advanced single-cell RNA sequencing techniques, the scientists identified clusters of immune cells – known as Crohn’s lymphoid aggregates – interacting with endothelial cells, which line blood vessels. These structures appeared to surround the immune cell clusters and were linked to nearby collagen-producing cells.
Researchers say these signalling interactions may actively drive the formation of scar tissue, offering a potential target for future therapies aimed at preventing or slowing fibrosis.
Dr Shahida Din, consultant gastroenterologist at NHS Lothian and honorary senior clinical lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, said: “Fibrosis remains one of the most challenging complications of Crohn’s disease because current treatments primarily target inflammation rather than the scarring itself.
“Understanding the cellular signalling pathways that link immune activity to collagen production could help guide the development of therapies aimed at preventing or slowing fibrosis.”
Dr Michael Glinka, a research fellow at the university, added that the findings highlight “previously unrecognised interactions” between immune, endothelial and collagen-producing cells.
The study, published in The Journal of Pathology, was carried out by a UK-wide collaboration and supported by the Leona M and Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust.