Evidence Emerges That Gluten Intolerance Could Be Triggered by a Seemingly Harmless Virus

[AndyPR]

Researchers have found early evidence that a common but harmless virus could be behind the incurable celiac disease, by causing our immune systems to turn against gluten.

Up until now, research has mainly focussed on the idea that celiac is a genetic disease, but this new study suggests that early infection with a virus called the reovirus could also play a role. The good news is that, if the infection hypothesis is confirmed, it could lead not only to much-needed new treatment options, but potentially even a vaccine.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition where the immune system starts attacking the lining of a patient's small intestine every time it's exposed to even the tiniest amount of gluten.

While many people who claim gluten intolerance don't actually have celiac disease, it's still a big problem for hundreds of thousands of people - one in 133 people in the US alone experience the condition, and researchers estimate that only 17 percent of those who have the condition in the country have actually been diagnosed.

There's currently no cure or effective treatments, and the only way to manage it is to cut out gluten entirely - not just by avoiding wheat-based bread and pastas, but choosing gluten-free toothpastes, soy sauces, and many other household products.

Previous research had found links between viral infections and celiac, but this is the first time researchers have been able to experimentally confirm the link, showing how a common and harmless human strain of reovirus could trigger celiac disease in mice.

The results need to be replicated in humans, but it's part of a growing body of evidence that suggests autoimmune diseases such as celiac disease and type 1 diabetes don't arise on their own, but are influenced by the presence of outside pathogens.

http://www.sciencealert.com/evidence-emerges-that-a-viral-infection-could-be-behind-celiac-disease

Also New Scientist article here https://www.newscientist.com/articl...-in-coeliac-disease-may-be-provoked-by-virus/

 

[Hip]

Here is the study:
Reovirus infection triggers inflammatory responses to dietary antigens and development of celiac disease | Science


And another good article:
A Seemingly Harmless Virus Might Be Triggering Celiac Disease

 

[RogerBlack]

'Potentially even a vaccine' - only if it's a latent virus causing ongoing autoantibody effects that will resolve without the virus. Which seems questionable alas.

 

[antares4141]

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/common-virus-may-be-celiac-disease-culprit

 

[Mary]

Very interesting!