association autoimmune & celiac disease

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A gut feeling for joint inflammation - using coeliac disease to

understand rheumatoid arthritis.

 

Trends Immunol. 2006 Mar 8;

 

Authors: Molberg O, Sollid LM

 

Major advances have been made in the molecular understanding of

coeliac disease, initiated by the identification of intestinal

gluten-reactive T cells. It is now clear that this common intestinal

disorder, which is precipitated by the ingestion of wheat gluten, is

mediated by DQ2-restricted T cells specific for gluten peptides

modified by transglutaminase 2, the same enzyme that is targeted by

disease-specific autoantibodies. Interestingly, many of the

important features identified in coeliac disease, including HLA

association, target organ T-cell infiltration, disease-specific

autoantibodies and the distinct targeting of in vivo modified

antigens, are also present in rheumatoid arthritis. The experiences

from coeliac disease should therefore help identify disease-relevant

T-cell epitopes in rheumatoid arthritis.

 

PMID: 16530013 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]