In any crime and in any disease, we should start with “who pulled the trigger”? Researchers have long known that not everyone with the HLA DQ2 and DQ8 genetics develop celiac disease, but without one of those genes, true celiac disease is rare. Why do some with the genes develop celiac and some don’t? Even in twin studies, only 75% of twins both have celiac while 25% occurs in only one of the twins. This study found that antibodies to two bacterial peptides cross reacted with gliadin antibodies in celiac patients.
The Australian researchers hypothesized that molecular mimicry may play a role in celiac disease. We know that molecular mimicry can play a role in how other toxins, foods, or infections trigger autoimmune responses. The mimicry occurs when a bacteria or viral protein resembles a protein naturally found in our bodies. When the immune system attacks the real invader, the antibodies also attack the body’s protein, leading to autoimmune disease.
Without full access to the article, I can’t tell you which bacteria were the triggers, but my guess is that over time, we will realize that many bacteria, many viruses, and many toxins lie behind the epidemic of autoimmune disease we are seeing. There are many researching this field of interaction. Other research has implicated colon Prevotella (bacteria) and EBV (virus causing mono) in autoimmune processes. I have included a few more article links at the end.
So how do you discern if you have a bacteria that has already triggered or might trigger an autoimmune disease in your case? If you already have an autoimmune disease, you need to search for possible triggers. Besides improving the already present disease, you may prevent another autoimmune process from developing. A functional MD like myself can help you do this. If you don’t have an autoimmune disease, just focus on keeping your immune system strong.
At Sanctuary, between a good history and some lab screening, we can help find triggers of present or future autoimmune problems. With that information, we can help you live a healthier more abundant life.
Original Article:
Jan Petersen, Laura Ciacchi, Mai T. Tran, Khai Lee Loh, Yvonne Kooy-Winkelaar, Nathan P. Croft, Melinda Y. Hardy, Zhenjun Chen, James McCluskey, Robert P. Anderson, Anthony W. Purcell, Jason A. Tye-Din, Frits Koning, Hugh H. Reid, Jamie Rossjohn. T cell receptor cross-reactivity between gliadin and bacterial peptides in celiac disease. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, 2019; DOI: 10.1038/s41594-019-0353-4
Thanks to Science Daily:
Monash University. “Bacterial link in celiac disease.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 8 January 2020. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/01/200108074759.htm>.
Other Articles to Read:
Pollard, K. M., Hultman, P. & Kono, D. H. Toxicology of autoimmune diseases. Chem. Res. Toxicol. 23, 455–466 (2010).
arino, E. et al. Gut microbial metabolites limit the frequency of autoimmune T cells and protect against type 1 diabetes. Nat. Immunol. 18, 552–562 (2017).
Li, B., Selmi, C., Tang, R., Gershwin, M. E. & Ma, X. The microbiome and autoimmunity: a paradigm from the gut-liver axis. Cell Mol. Immunol. 15, 595–609 (2018).
Sollid, L. M. & Jabri, B. Triggers and drivers of autoimmunity: lessons from coeliac disease. Nat. Rev. Immunol. 13, 294–302 (2013).
Sanctuary Functional Medicine, under the direction of Dr Eric Potter, IFMCP MD, provides functional medicine services to Nashville, Middle Tennessee and beyond. We frequently treat patients from Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and more... offering the hope of healthier more abundant lives to those with chronic illness.
