Virus Can Trigger Celiac Disease

May 17th, 2017

Celiac disease is a digestive disorder in which the immune system is triggered by gluten to damage the small intestine. Celiac disease, which has no cure, can lead to digestive problems and can prevent the body from getting the nutrients it needs. Why the body’s immune system responds to gluten is poorly understood, but research has revealed that a reovirus, a common but otherwise harmless virus, can provoke the immune system response. In a collaboration with researchers from the University of Chicago, Terence Dermody, MD, Vira I. Heinz Professor and chair of pediatrics, Pitt School of Medicine, showed that intestinal viruses can induce the immune system to overreact to gluten in laboratory mice. Learning how the virus causes the overreaction may lead to preventive measures for people at risk for developing celiac disease.