A virus may develop celiac disease
Celiac disease has a genetic basis, but having certain genes does not mean that the disease will develop: only 3-4% of those who have these genetic variants develop it. Well, a study published in the journal Science reveals that a viral infection can be one of the factors that trigger the disease.
It is an apparently asymptomatic revirus that infects our small intestine without causing damage. However, according to this latest study, the effects on people with a genetic tendency to develop celiac disease vary: they alter immune tolerance to food.
This is because the body is tolerant of food antigens and does not produce immune aggression. But in the case of celiac disease this tolerance is lost and causes an immune response to gluten. According to the new study, viruses can prevent this immunological tolerance to gluten: they alter the expression of the genes of the intestinal mucosa and lose tolerance to food antigens. As a result, immune system cells are launched and intestinal inflammation occurs.
Although there was already epidemiological evidence that allowed establishing relationships between viruses and celiac disease, so far there has been no experimental evidence of this relationship. In any case, the research has been done on the mouse, so it will be necessary to analyze if it has the same incidence in humans.
Ainara Castellanos Rubio is a genetic of the UPV/EHU dedicated to the research of celiac disease and has stressed that for now it is a research with mice. “It seems that reobirus has something to do with it, but in addition to reobirus other factors are necessary for the development of the disease. It’s not the only factor, after all we talk about complex diseases and need more information about them.”
When asked about the new strategies that celiac disease research can open, Ainara recognizes that it can open many fields of research: “One option would be to develop a vaccine to prevent the development of the disease. For example, for children who are siblings of coeliacs, if they are at genetic risk, a vaccine may be developed to prevent infection of the virus and reduce risk. But you won’t be able to develop a rabies vaccine, that is, even if the vaccine is against the virus, it doesn’t mean it cures the disease.”
Beyond the possible benefit of a possible vaccine, and given that food allergies and autoimmune diseases are becoming more frequent, the new research will serve to have a broader view of this type of disease.
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