Metabolomics reveal distinct molecular pathways associated with future risk of Crohn’s Disease

Host – microbiome interactions are central to Crohn’sdisease (CD) pathogenesis; yet the early metabolic alterations that precededisease onset remain poorly defined. To explore preclinical metabolicsignatures of CD, we analyzed baseline serum metabolomic profiles in a nestedcase-control study within the Crohn’s and Colitis Canada – Genetics, Environment, Microbiome (CCC-GEM) Project, a prospective cohort of 5,122 healthyfirst-degree relatives (FDRs) of CD patients. We included 78 individuals wholater developed CD and 311 matched FDRs who remained disease-free. In an untargetedassessment of metabolomic data, we identified 63 metabolites significantlyassociated with future CD risk. Integrative analyses further identifiedmultiple associations between CD-related metabolites and proteomic markers, gutmicrobiome composition, antimicrobial antibody, fecal calprotectin andC-reactive protein. Quinolinate, a tryptophan catabolite, was elevated inindividuals who later developed CD and showed strong positive correlations withC-reactive protein, fecal calprotectin, and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 9 (CXCL9).In contrast, higher levels of ascorbate and isocitrate were associated withreduced CD risk and were negatively correlated with C-reactive protein and CD-associated proteins.These findings identify several distinct molecular pathways that contribute toCD pathogenesis.