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Genetic links to celiac disease identified | British scientists have identified new genetic links to celiac disease. According to the researchers, these latest
findings could speed the way towards improved diagnostics and treatments for the
autoimmune complaint disease, triggered by an intolerance to gluten (a protein
found in foods containing wheat, barley and rye) that prevents normal absorption
of nutrients. If undetected it can lead to severe health problems including anaemia,
poor bone health, fatigue and weight loss. David van Heel, Professor of Gastrointestinal
Genetics at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry led an international
team of researchers to identify four aspects of immune system disturbance, which
lead to the development of the disease. Nearly 40 different inherited risk factors,
which predispose to the disease have been identified. "We can now shed light on
some of the precise immune disturbances leading to coeliac disease. These include
how T cells in the body react to toxic wheat proteins, how the thymus gland eliminates
these T cells during infancy, and the body's response to viral infections," Professor
van Heel said. "We now understand that many of these genetic risk factors work
by altering the amounts of these immune system genes that cells make. "The data
also suggests that coeliac disease is made up of hundreds of genetic risk factors,
we can have a good guess at nearly half of the genetic risk at present," van Heel
added. The study also shows that there is substantial evidence to indicate a shared
risk between the gene associated with coeliac disease and many other common chronic
immune mediated diseases. The results of the study are published online in Nature
Genetics. |
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