A usually harmless virus may play a role in triggering celiac disease, a new study in mice suggests. Previous studies have suggested a link between infections with certain viruses, including hepatitis C virus, and rotavirus (a virus in the same family as reovirus) and the development of celiac disease. But the study also found that patients with celiac disease did have higher levels of antibodies against reovirus, compared to people without the condition. The findings suggest that reovirus infection may leave a "permanent mark" on the immune system that sets the body up for developing celiac disease, the researchers said. "A virus that is not clinically symptomatic can still do bad things to the immune system and set the stage for an autoimmune disorder," such as celiac disease, study co-author Dr. Bana Jabri, director of research at the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center, said in a statement.
If it's true that the virus can trigger celiac disease, then young children who carry the risk genes for celiac could be vaccinated against Reovirus. For people with celiac disease, gluten can wreak havoc on their digestive systems. They found people who have celiac disease have two- to five-fold higher levels of reovirus-specific antibodies. The mice developed "an immunological response against gluten that mimics the features of humans with celiac disease," Dermody says. The symptoms of celiac disease include diarrhea and other signs of gastrointestinal distress.
collected by :Sandra Alex
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