title: Is Candida albicans a trigger in the onset of coeliac disease?
abstract: Coeliac disease is a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease of the small intestine that is induced by ingestion of gluten proteins from wheat, barley, or rye. We postulate that Candida albicans is a trigger in the onset of coeliac disease. The virulence factor of C albicans-hyphal wall protein 1 (HWP1)-contains aminoacid sequences that are identical or highly homologous to known coeliac disease-related alpha-gliadin and gamma-gliadin T-cell epitopes. HWP1 is a transglutaminase substrate, and is used by C albicans to adhere to the intestinal epithelium. Furthermore, tissue transglutaminase and endomysium components could become covalently linked to the yeast. Subsequently, C albicans might function as an adjuvant that stimulates antibody formation against HWP1 and gluten, and formation of autoreactive antibodies against tissue transglutaminase and endomysium.
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) Nutrition and Food Research, PO Box 360, 3700 AJ, Zeist, Netherlands. nieuwenhuizen@voeding.tno.nl
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Nieuwenhuizen
authors.forename: R H H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Pieters
authors.forename: L M J
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Knippels
authors.forename: M C J F
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Koppelman
mesh_terms: D000917:Antibody Formation; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005903:Gliadin / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000378:metabolism; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; C118102:HWP1 protein, Candida albicans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D005903:Gliadin; D011503:Transglutaminases