New aspects in celiac disease

Abstract

Celiac disease (CD) is a common autoimmune disorder characterized by an immune response to ingested gluten and has a strong HLA association with HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 molecules, but human HLA-DQ risk factors do not explain the entire genetic susceptibility to gluten intolerance. CD is caused by the lack of immune tolerance (oral tolerance) to wheat gluten. In this sense, the expression of soluble HLA-G in CD is of special interest because the molecule plays an important role in the induction of immune tolerance. The enhanced expression of soluble HLA-G found in CD may be part of a mechanism to restore the gluten intolerance. In this editorial, we review recent progress in understanding CD in relation to its prevalence, diagnosis and possible mechanisms of pathogenesis.

Figure 1

Immunohistochemistry analysis in celiac patients. A: Immunohisto-chemical staining for HLA-G in the Lieberkühn crypts; B: Immunohistochemical staining for IL-10 at the lamina propria level; C: Immunoreaction for TGF-beta in areas of infiltrated inflammatory cells. Arrows and asterisks: cells showing immunoreactivity (x 200).