Connect
The Bacterial Connection to Celiac Disease
The increase in celiac disease incidence has led investigators to focus on whether environmental determinants, including gut microorganisms, contribute to the development of the disease. Dr. Joseph Murray discusses a new study which used a humanized mouse model of gluten sensitivity, and found that the gut microbiome can play an important role in the body’s response to gluten.
When an individual with celiac disease consumes gluten, the immune system responds by causing damage to the small intestine. This may lead to abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating and fatigue, among other symptoms. In an attempt to address this, investigators from McMaster University in Canada, along with Dr. Murray, looked at how the immune responses to gluten varied with different populations of gut bacteria in mouse models of gluten intolerance. Their findings are published in The American Journal of Pathology.
Read the full study online here.
For more information about celiac disease, visit mayoclinic.org/celiac disease.
Dr. Murray is a gastroenterologist and celiac disease expert at Mayo Clinic.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more newsfeed posts like this? Go to the Gastroenterology & GI Surgery blog.
Connect