A gut feeling for joint inflammation - using coeliac disease to understand rheumatoid arthritis.
Major advances have been made in the molecular understanding of coeliac disease, initiated by the identification of intestinal gluten-reactive T cells. It is now clear that this common intestinal disorder, which is precipitated by the ingestion of wheat gluten, is mediated by DQ2-restricted T cells specific for gluten peptides modified by transglutaminase 2, the same enzyme that is targeted by disease-specific autoantibodies. Interestingly, many of the important features identified in coeliac disease, including HLA association, target organ T-cell infiltration, disease-specific autoantibodies and the distinct targeting of in vivo modified antigens, are also present in rheumatoid arthritis. The experiences from coeliac disease should therefore help identify disease-relevant T-cell epitopes in rheumatoid arthritis.
Molberg
Øyvind
Ø
Institute of Immunology and Department of Rheumatology, Rikshospitalet University Hospital, University of Oslo, N-0027 Oslo, Norway. oyvind.molberg@medisin.uio.no
Sollid
Ludvig M
LM
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007596:Joints / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens