Research gives new insight into celiac disease

For the first time, scientists have gained an insight into how celiac disease is triggered by visualising an interaction between gluten and T-cells of the immune system.

The condition – which affects on average one in every 133 people – is an increasingly diagnosed chronic inflammatory disorder and this new study – published in Immunity – aims to encourage attempts to produce a treatment allowing sufferers to resume a normal diet.

Led by Dr Hugh Reid and Professor Jamie Rossjohn of Monash University, Dr Bob Anderson of biotechnology company ImmusanT and Professor Frits Koning of the University of Leiden, the investigation used the Australian Synchroton to visually determine how T-cells in the immune system interact with gluten.

Dr Reid stated the discovery was an "important breakthrough" for autoimmune disease and celiac disease.

"This is the first time that the intricacies of the interaction between gluten and two proteins that initiate immune responses have been visualised at a sub-molecular level," he explained.