Unique Antibody Profile Differentiates Gluten Sensitivity from Celiac Disease
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 17 Sep 2020 |

Image: Histology of normal small intestinal mucosa in adequately treated celiac disease (A). Untreated coeliac disease shows the classic triad of infiltration of the epithelium with lymphocytes, crypt hyperplasia and villous atrophy (B) (Photo courtesy of Professor Jason Tye-Din, MBBS PhD).
Until recently, many doctors often dismissed the complaints of people who claimed to be sensitive to foods containing gluten but did not have celiac disease, a well-documented autoimmune disease triggered by exposure to the dietary protein found in wheat, rye, and barley.
Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune enteropathy triggered by exposure to gluten proteins, leading to intestinal inflammation and villous atrophy in genetically predisposed individuals. It is associated with robust B cell and antibody responses to gluten and to the transglutaminase 2 (TG2) autoantigen.
A team of scientists from various institutions and led by those at the Columbia University Medical Center (New York, NY, USA) analyzed blood samples from 40 patients with celiac disease, 80 patients with non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), and 40 healthy controls, all of whom consumed an unrestricted, gluten-containing diet. The most common gastrointestinal symptoms included bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and heartburn, while the most prominent extra-intestinal symptoms were fatigue, headache, anxiety, cognitive difficulties, and numbness in arms and legs.
Serum levels of total IgG reactivity to gluten and individual IgG subclass reactivities to gluten were measured separately by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum levels of intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (FABP2) were also measured. FABP2 is a cytosolic protein specific to intestinal epithelial cells that is released into systemic circulation upon cellular damage. The team measured IgA antibody to recombinant human TG2, a sensitive and specific serologic marker for CD. The investigators performed HLA genotyping to assess CD genetic predisposition.
The scientists reported that the anti-gliadin IgG response in CD patients was comprised primarily of IgG1 and IgG3, which were significantly increased in comparison with the healthy and NCGS cohorts. There was a modest elevation in anti-gliadin IgG2 compared with the healthy group and no comparative increase in the IgG4 subclass. Within the NCGS cohort, however, the lower contributions of anti-gliadin IgG1 and IgG3 in comparison with CD was compensated by significantly elevated IgG4 (compared with CD and healthy cohorts) and IgG2 (compared with healthy cohort). Serum concentrations of intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (FABP2), a specific marker of intestinal epithelial cell damage, were similarly elevated in the CD and NCGS groups in comparison with healthy cohort.
Armin Alaedini, PhD, an assistant professor of medicine and a senior author of the study, said, “We found that the B cells of celiac disease patients produced a subclass profile of IgG antibodies with a strong inflammatory potential that is linked to autoimmune activity and intestinal cell damage. In contrast, the patients with non-celiac gluten sensitivity produced IgG antibodies that are associated with a more restrained inflammatory response.” The study was published online July 21, 2020 in the journal Gastroenterology.
Related Links:
Columbia University Medical Center
Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune enteropathy triggered by exposure to gluten proteins, leading to intestinal inflammation and villous atrophy in genetically predisposed individuals. It is associated with robust B cell and antibody responses to gluten and to the transglutaminase 2 (TG2) autoantigen.
A team of scientists from various institutions and led by those at the Columbia University Medical Center (New York, NY, USA) analyzed blood samples from 40 patients with celiac disease, 80 patients with non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), and 40 healthy controls, all of whom consumed an unrestricted, gluten-containing diet. The most common gastrointestinal symptoms included bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and heartburn, while the most prominent extra-intestinal symptoms were fatigue, headache, anxiety, cognitive difficulties, and numbness in arms and legs.
Serum levels of total IgG reactivity to gluten and individual IgG subclass reactivities to gluten were measured separately by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum levels of intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (FABP2) were also measured. FABP2 is a cytosolic protein specific to intestinal epithelial cells that is released into systemic circulation upon cellular damage. The team measured IgA antibody to recombinant human TG2, a sensitive and specific serologic marker for CD. The investigators performed HLA genotyping to assess CD genetic predisposition.
The scientists reported that the anti-gliadin IgG response in CD patients was comprised primarily of IgG1 and IgG3, which were significantly increased in comparison with the healthy and NCGS cohorts. There was a modest elevation in anti-gliadin IgG2 compared with the healthy group and no comparative increase in the IgG4 subclass. Within the NCGS cohort, however, the lower contributions of anti-gliadin IgG1 and IgG3 in comparison with CD was compensated by significantly elevated IgG4 (compared with CD and healthy cohorts) and IgG2 (compared with healthy cohort). Serum concentrations of intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (FABP2), a specific marker of intestinal epithelial cell damage, were similarly elevated in the CD and NCGS groups in comparison with healthy cohort.
Armin Alaedini, PhD, an assistant professor of medicine and a senior author of the study, said, “We found that the B cells of celiac disease patients produced a subclass profile of IgG antibodies with a strong inflammatory potential that is linked to autoimmune activity and intestinal cell damage. In contrast, the patients with non-celiac gluten sensitivity produced IgG antibodies that are associated with a more restrained inflammatory response.” The study was published online July 21, 2020 in the journal Gastroenterology.
Related Links:
Columbia University Medical Center
Latest Immunology News
- New AI System Uncovers Hidden Cell Subtypes to Advance Cancer Immunotherapy
- Evolutionary Clinical Trial to Identify Novel Biomarker-Driven Therapies for Metastatic Breast Cancer
- Groundbreaking Lateral Flow Test Quantifies Nucleosomes in Whole Venous Blood in Minutes
- World’s First Clinical Test Predicts Best Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment
- Blood Test Detects Organ Rejection in Heart Transplant Patients
- Liquid Biopsy Approach to Transform Diagnosis, Monitoring and Treatment of Lung Cancer
- Computational Tool Exposes Hidden Cancer DNA Changes Influencing Treatment Resistance
- New Tool Detects Breast Cancer Relapses Five Years in Advance
- T Cells in Blood Can Detect Parkinson's Years Before Diagnosis
- POC Diagnostic Platform Performs Immune Analysis Using One Drop of Fingertip Blood
- Treatment Switching Guided by Liquid Biopsy Blood Tests Improves Outcomes for Breast Cancer Patients
- First-Of-Its-Kind Device Profiles Newborns' Immune Function Using Single Blood Drop
- Stem Cell Test Predicts Treatment Outcome for Patients with Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer
- Machine Learning-Enabled Blood Test Predicts Immunotherapy Response in Lymphoma Patients
- Post-Treatment Blood Test Could Inform Future Cancer Therapy Decisions
Channels
Clinical Chemistry
view channel
Skin Swabs Could Detect Parkinson’s Years Before Symptoms Appear
Parkinson’s disease is notoriously difficult to diagnose in its early stages, as motor symptoms do not appear until later in the progression of the disease. The ability to detect the disease up to seven... Read more
New Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Designed to Meet Growing Demands of Modern Labs
A new clinical chemistry analyzer is designed to provide outstanding performance and maximum efficiency, without compromising affordability, to meet the growing demands of modern laboratories.... Read more
New Reference Measurement Procedure Standardizes Nucleic Acid Amplification Test Results
Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) play a key role in diagnosing a wide range of infectious diseases. These tests are generally known for their high sensitivity and specificity, and they can be developed... Read moreMolecular Diagnostics
view channel
Highly Accurate Biomarkers Could Detect Ovarian Cancer Before Clinical Diagnosis
Ovarian cancer is a deadly and challenging disease, primarily because early detection is difficult. Most women (70-75%) are diagnosed only after the cancer has already spread, which significantly reduces... Read more
New Gene Tool to Enable Earlier Detection and Treatment of Cardiometabolic Diseases
Cardiometabolic diseases, which affect the heart, blood vessels, and the body's ability to process food and generate energy, are difficult to diagnose early due to the complex genetic changes that contribute... Read moreHematology
view channel
Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results
Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more
First Point-of-Care Heparin Monitoring Test Provides Results in Under 15 Minutes
Heparin dosing requires careful management to avoid both bleeding and clotting complications. In high-risk situations like extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), mortality rates can reach about 50%,... Read moreMicrobiology
view channel
Early Detection of Gut Microbiota Metabolite Linked to Atherosclerosis Could Revolutionize Diagnosis
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and atherosclerosis plays a critical role in its development. This chronic condition, characterized by the hardening and narrowing of arteries... Read more
Viral Load Tests Can Help Predict Mpox Severity
Mpox is a viral infection that causes flu-like symptoms and a characteristic rash, which evolves significantly over time and varies between patients. The disease spreads mainly through direct contact with... Read more
Gut Microbiota Analysis Enables Early and Non-Invasive Detection of Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder marked by abnormal glucose metabolism during pregnancy, typically emerging in the mid to late stages. It significantly heightens the risk of... Read morePathology
view channel
AI Tool Accurately Determines Breast Cancer Prognosis
A new study has found that cells and tissues surrounding a breast cancer tumor may hold critical information about how patients will respond to treatment. The research, published in the journal Patterns,... Read more
Powerful New Tool Improves Tissue Cancer Analysis
Studying the mix of cell types in human tissue is crucial for understanding diseases like cancer, but it presents significant challenges in both accuracy and scalability. The tumor microenvironment, composed... Read moreTechnology
view channel
Electronic Biosensors Used to Detect Pathogens Can Rapidly Detect Cancer Cells
A major challenge in healthcare is the early and affordable detection of serious diseases such as cancer. Early diagnosis remains difficult due to the complexity of identifying specific genetic markers... Read more
Safer, Portable and Low-Cost Imaging Solution to Revolutionize Biomedical Diagnostics
In diagnosing diseases and monitoring treatment, accurate and quick detection of temperature within biological tissues can be crucial, especially in early disease detection. Conventional methods such as... Read more
Multifunctional Nanomaterial Simultaneously Performs Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment, and Immune Activation
Cancer treatments, including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, have significant limitations. These treatments not only target cancerous areas but also damage healthy tissues, causing side effects... Read moreIndustry
view channel
QuidelOrtho and BÜHLMANN Collaborate on Gastrointestinal Biomarker Tests
QuidelOrtho Corporation (San Diego, CA, USA) and BÜHLMANN Laboratories AG (Schönenbuch, Switzerland) have announced the availability of the BÜHLMANN fCAL turbo and fPELA turbo assays on QuidelOrtho's... Read more