Pathogenetic sequences in coeliac disease : closing the jigsaw puzzle

Abstract

Coeliac disease is one of the best understood models of adaptive immunity in which a known dietary component triggers over-presentation of a known autoantigen in genetically predisposed individuals. The dynamics of this gene-nutrient interaction and the mechanism responsible for accelerated programmed death of the enterocytes lining the upper small intestine are explored in order to generate insight into the large number of candidate pharmacological agents that may well aid or replace cumbersome dietary treatment in years to come.