Monday, February 21, 2011

Celiac Disease Research - What it means to you

Keeping up with news about research into celiac disease, gluten-intolerance, the gluten-free diet and related topics can keep you very busy.

And sometimes when you read about new studies it can still be difficult to figure out exactly what they will mean in your gluten-free life. Is a promising treatment likely to move from the lab to real life in five years or ten? Can a new way of diagnosing celiac disease or gluten intolerance get you a definitive answer after years of uncertainty? What about studies into safe levels of gluten in your food? Are there links between celiac disease and other medical conditions?

In upcoming issues of Gluten-Free Living we'll give you important information about research and how to interpret it. More about that in a minute.

 First we wanted to let you know about a new study from the University of Chicago, where researchers have been able to create and then cure celiac disease in mice by manipulating an inflammatory protein commonly found in the gut of humans who have the disease.

In a study published in the journal Nature, mice who were genetically  susceptible to celiac disease were given an increased amount of interleukin 15 causing them to develop symptoms of the disease. But when the IL-15 was blocked, the mice reverted to normal and could tolerate gluten again.

Interestingly, when the mice were given retinoic acid, a derivative of
Vitamin A thought to reduce inflammation in the intestine, they got worse instead of better.

So what does all this mean to those who have celiac disease?

The hope is that results will eventually help treat and possibly prevent development of celiac disease in those who are most at risk. The study identifies IL-15 as one, perhaps critical, way people lose tolerance to gluten and could lead to ways to block it, said Bana Jabri, MD, PhD, one of the study's authors and an associate professor who works with the University of Chicago's Celiac Disease Center.

In fact, clinical trials of medications that block IL-15 are already under way for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, another inflammatory disorder. Early results have been encouraging.

The study also raises questions about the use of retinoic acid, which is found in acne treatments such as Retin-A and Accutane, by those who have celiac disease. The retinoids seem to act with the IL-15 to promote inflammation in the intestine.

This study is just one of many related to celiac disease currently underway. To help readers of Gluten-Free Living understand what some of these studies mean, we are launching a new research column in our upcoming issue. The column is written by Jason Clevenger, PhD, a scientist with the consulting firm Exponent, Inc. He is the former editor of the Healthy Villi Newsletter published by the Boston celiac disease support group. Jason became interested in celiac disease when he met his wife Charmaine, who had been diagnosed while she was in college. His column will include a summary of each study in language you can understand even if you don't have a medical degree. And it will tell you why it's important to you.

Nearly seven years ago, when the National Institutes of Health held the first consensus conference on celiac disease and helped usher it into a new era of understanding, the point was made that not enough scientists were interested in studying the disease.  That, like many other things related to the gluten-free lifestyle, has changed.

We've designed our new research column to help you make sense out of the growing scientific interest in celiac disease, gluten intolerance and the gluten-free diet. Look for it in our new issue, due out in early March.

Amy Ratner





4 comments:

Anonymous said...

There is already a "cure" for celiacs -- not eating gluten. Why do we insist on doing things the easy way? Have we not learned from, for example, what we are finding out about what other meds to the body and brain?

And there is more to celiacs than what happens in the intestines; there are grave implications in the brain. Once again, we will cover up symptoms rather than deal with disease.

Amy said...

Hi Christine,
Thanks for your comment. It's true many people feel the gluten-free diet is the best treatment and cure. But new studies are looking at ways to prevent the development of celiac disease in the first place and better ways to diagnose it. That seems like a good thing.

GFyvr said...

I look forward to your issue! I just love reading them and covering relevant research is great. I currently read the different research studies listed and in the various stages such as on clinicaltrials. I use it to write a newsletter for a large Chapter about what is going on and try to put it into common language. I find that the members love it and to learn what might be in the future for their kids and/or future offspring. Of course there are the people that have had CD for 30+ years who know nothing more than a GF diet and it is a lifestyle now that would be very different to change after all these years. It is just way easier to eat GF! We have a study going on at the local children's hospital that I am following too which is pretty interesting considering I know the doctor. Great idea to augment your already very good newsletter with this new column!

GFyvr said...

This is just great for you to be including this in your magazine! I write a newsletter for a large Chapter and I follow the current research websites like clinicaltrials to receive up to date information as to what is going on and the different stages of celiac disease research. I also follow a local study being done be a peds gastro at the Children's Hospital regarding Celiac Diagnosis in Children and various methodologies that are being investigated for that group of new patients. I find that the members really enjoy this content in the newsletter - especially when it is broken down for them! It gives the currently diagnosed some promise that their kids and future relatives might have an easier time with CD.
I was diagnosed 30 years ago along with brain symptoms and while for me the GF diet is ingrained in what I do, I really do not know what it is like to not live this lifestyle. It would be nice, as there are autoimmune conditions much worse than CD, that the genetic or triggering parts of these autoimmune condition could be addressed.
Thanks Amy for bringing this additional content to the magazine!