Methods of neural inhibition for treating bowel diseases and disorders

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method for treating a bowel disease in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising inhibiting the activity of neurons of the insular cortex of the subject. Further provided is a system comprising a transcranial stimulation transducing coil for transcranial stimulation configured to provide a series of pulses to neurons of the insular cortex.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating a bowel disease in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising inhibiting the activity of neurons of the insular cortex of said subject, thereby treating a bowel disease in the subject. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said neurons of the insular cortex are in coordinates:
 a) Medial Lateral (ML): (2.5)-(+4.5) cm;   b) Anterior Posterior (AP): (3.0)-(−2.2) cm; and   c) Dorsal Ventral (DV): (−1)-(+2) cm.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said activity of neurons of the insular cortex is inhibited by applying transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said activity of neurons of the insular cortex is inhibited by applying biofeedback stimulation. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said activity of neurons of the insular cortex is modified by applying focused ultrasound stimulation (FUS). 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said subject is afflicted with Crohn's disease. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said subject is afflicted with ulcerative colitis (UC). 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said subject is afflicted with an immunodeficient disease. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said subject is afflicted with an autoimmune disease. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said subject is afflicted with a functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) or a symptom thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said FGID is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said inhibiting the activity of neurons of the insular cortex comprises altering the activity, abundance or both of a CD8 T-cell, a CD4 T-cell, a γδ T-cell, a B-cell, a dendritic cell, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said inhibiting the activity of neurons of the insular cortex is reducing the number of: CD4 and CD45+ T cells and B cells in the intraepithelial layer of said subject. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said inhibiting the activity of neurons of the insular cortex is reducing the number of: CD4 and CD45+ T cells and B cells in the lamina propria of said subject. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said inhibiting the activity of neurons of the insular cortex is increasing the number of γδT cells in the lamina propria of said subject. 
     
     
         16 . A system comprising a transcranial stimulation transducing coil for transcranial stimulation configured to provide a series of pulses to neurons of the insular cortex, wherein said neurons of the insular cortex are in coordinates:
 a) ML: (2.5)-(+4.5) cm;   b) AP: (3.0)-(−2.2) cm; and   c) DV: (−1)-(+2) cm.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the type of said transcranial stimulation is selected from the group consisting of: magnetic stimulation, electric stimulation, ultrasound stimulation, and light stimulation. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , for the treatment of a bowel disease.