title: Coeliac disease - from genetic and immunological studies to clinical applications.
abstract: Coeliac disease is a common and important gastrointestinal disease. It affects at least 1%, most Western European populations and in Nordic countries it is even more frequent. It is strongly associated with certain Human Leukocyte Antigen-DQ genes and triggered by ingestion of wheat gluten and related cereals from rye and barley. The diagnosis relies on a combination of clinical signs, serology and small intestinal biopsy. Work during the last couple of decades has shown that gluten-specific, Human Leukocyte Antigen-DQ-restricted T-cells in the intestinal mucosa are of paramount importance in the disease process. The gluten peptides are chemically modified by the endogenous enzyme transglutaminase 2, the same enzyme that serves as target in today's sensitive serological tests for coeliac disease. The increasing knowledge on the disease process allows for development of improved diagnosis, patient care and new treatment modalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Oslo University Hospital-Rikshospitalet , Oslo , Norway.
authors.forename: Knut E A
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Lundin
authors.forename: Shuo-Wang
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Omri
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Snir
authors.forename: Ludvig M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Sollid
mesh_terms: D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005983:Glutens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D009017:Morbidity; D012537:Scandinavian and Nordic Countries / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D005983:Glutens
keywords: coeliac-disease; gastroduodenal-basic; gastroduodenal-clinical; immunology; small-intestinal-disorders