Antagonist peptides of the gliadin T-cell stimulatory sequences: a therapeutic strategy for celiac disease.
Celiac disease (CD) is a T helper 1-driven autoimmune permanent enteropathy, triggered in susceptible individuals by the ingestion of gluten, the alcohol-soluble protein fraction of some cereals, such as wheat, rye, and barley. The only available treatment for CD is the life-long withdrawal of gluten-containing foods from the diet. Complying with gluten-free diet is difficult and affects the quality of life. Therefore, alternative therapies are being investigated. In this paper, we review a new therapeutic strategy for CD, relying upon peptides that are analogs of gliadin T-cell epitopes that show the ability to down-modulate the immune response pathogenic of CD. These peptides have been obtained artificially by amino acids substitution of gliadin T-cell stimulatory sequences and an immunomodulatory sequence has been identified in the alcohol-soluble protein fraction of cultivars of durum wheat.
Silano
Marco
M
Division of Food Sciences, Human Nutrition and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, Roma, Italy.
Vincentini
Olimpia
O
Iapello
Angela
A
Mancini
Elena
E
De Vincenzi
Massimo
M
D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D005903:Gliadin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014908:Triticum / Q000737:chemistry
D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D010455:Peptides; D005903:Gliadin