hope in mice

0.3 to 2.4% of people worldwide suffer from celiac disease. Not to be confused with the new fashion which is to track down the gluten without reason. No longer with gluten sensitivity (an unpleasant sensation after consuming foods containing gluten, but without real diagnostic evidence, which does not detract from the reality of the feelings of affected people).

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease which is characterized by severe gluten intolerance and more particularly to a family of proteins : the gliadins. It is a socially debilitating disease because you have to track down every trace gluten in the diet. A protein found in the corn, rye,barley and some varieties ofoats. Because of this, all foods that contain these cereals are prohibited and those produced in the same factories are also prohibited. A new experience in mice published in the journal Gastroenterology suggests hope for treatment.

This treatment is effective and safe only in animals for now. © Karushova, Adobe Stock

A treatment that works in mice

Similar experiments had already been carried out in other animal models. Treatment consists of an injection of nanoparticles containing the protein targets, the famous gliadins. This is intended to decrease the sensitivity of the immune cells which activate abnormally in this pathology. Several groups of mice were injected with the treatment or a control treatment. At the rodents who received the real treatment, scientists noticed a drop ininflammation, A decrease in the proliferation of immune cells responsible for the disease and a reduction in lesions enteric characteristics of this type of disease compared to the control group. Other anthropometric parameters and genetic have also improved.

We must wait for clinical trials

If this clinical Review gives hope, it is only one step in the real obstacle course that requires validation of a treatment. There is no question of extrapolating these results directly to clinical practice. We will have to wait for the first trials in humans, then the various evaluations of the risk-benefit balance of such treatment.