Exclusive enteral nutrition impacts peripheral blood mononuclear cell profile of children with Crohn's disease

The immunological effects of exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) in the treatment of active Crohn's disease (CD) are yet to be unveiled. The present study investigated changes in peripheral blood mononuclear cell profiles in children with active CD following 8-week treatment with EEN. In nine children, EEN significantly decreased the number and frequency of circulating effector memory CD8⁺ T cells re-expressing CD45RA, with corresponding increases observed in the frequency of circulating central and effector memory CD8⁺ T cells. These signals were conserved when looking at a subgroup of patients who achieved remission, and another who demonstrated the highest level of compliance to EEN. We speculate that the increases in circulating central and effector memory CD8⁺ T cells may be related to the extensive microbiome-modifying effects of EEN dampening immune response within the gastrointestinal tract.