Methods and apparatus for detection of gluten sensitivity, and its differentiation from celiac disease

Abstract

Antibodies are used as biomarkers to assist in distinguishing gluten immune reactivity and sensitivity, silent celiac disease, Crohn's disease and other gut-related pathologies from classical celiac disease. In one class of embodiments, sera, saliva or other samples from a human or other animal are tested for antibodies to (a) a wheat antigen; (b) a gliadin antigen; and (c) one or more of a wheat germ agglutinin, a gluteomorphin, a glutenin, a deamidated glutenin, a prodynorphin, and a dynorphin. Test results are considered particularly interesting where the wheat antigen and the gliadin antigen are both selected from the group consisting of an α-gliadin-33-mer, an α-gliadin-17-mer, a γ-gliadin-15-mer, an ω-gliadin-17-mer, and a glutenin-21-mer. Test plates and kits can advantageously test for antigens to at least three, five, seven or all of α-gliadin, γ-gliadin, ω-gliadin, glutenin, wheat germ agglutinin, gluteomorphin, prodynorphins, transglutaminase-2, transglutaminase-3, transglutaminase-6, and gliadin-bound transglutaminase.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION[0001]The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 434,501 filed Jan. 20, 2011, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to methods and kits for aid in diagnosis of gut-related diseases and pathologies, including at least gluten immune reactivity and sensitivity, silent celiac disease, and Crohn's disease.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Wheat allergy, celiac disease and gluten sensitivity are three distinct conditions that are triggered by the ingestion of wheat gliadin (1, 2). In these conditions, the reaction to gluten is mediated by both cellular and humoral immune responses, resulting in the presentation of different symptomatologies. For example, in wheat allergy a specific sequence of gliadin peptides cross-links two IgE molecules on the surface of mast cells and basophils that trigger the release of mediators such as histamines and leukotrienes (...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a method for diagnosing gluten immune reactivity and sensitivity, as well as silent or atypical celiac disease, Crohn's disease, and chronic immune activation by testing for antibodies to wheat antigens. The test results can help differentiate between gluten immune reactivity and sensitivity, and symptomatic and atypical celiac disease, Crohn's disease, and chronic immune activation. The invention also provides test plates and kits for conducting the tests and analyzing the test results. The detection of antibodies can be performed using various immunoassays, such as ELISA, RIA, latex agglutination, beads assay, proteomic assays, and other known to one of ordinary skill in the art."

Problems solved by technology

The less severe clinical picture in GS, the absence of tTg autoantibodies, and the dismissal of the significance of elevated IgG and IgA autoantibodies against various wheat proteins and peptides by many clinicians makes GS an extremely dangerous disorder.

This is because the persistence of IgG and / or IgA antibodies in the blood for long periods of time, along with inducers of inflammatory cascades can result in full-blown autoimmunity.

If this were to be the case, due to the severity of the resulting tissue damage even implementation of a gluten-free diet might not be able to help reverse the course of the autoimmune reaction induced by IgG and IgA antibodies against different wheat antigens and peptides.

According to this model, if two children, one with a negative genetic makeup (HLA DQ2 / DQ8), and the other with positive (HLA DQ2 / DQ8+), are exposed to environmental factors, such as Rota virus, bacterial endotoxins, and some medications or their synergistic effects, the result can be a breakdown of mucosal immune tolerance in both children.

However, in the individual with the positive genetic makeup, the IgG and IgA antibodies against gliadin along with biomarkers of inflammation can activate tTg, induce damage to the villi, and result in villous atrophy.

With continuous exposure to wheat antigens and continuous mucosal immune tolerance, the wheat antigens and reacting antibodies form an unholy alliance of immune complexes, resulting in severe gluten immune reactivity and sensitivity.

Unfortunately, that leaves many gluten-sensitive people suffering unnecessarily with very serious symptoms that put them at risk for complications, conditions that might be resolved with a gluten-free diet, if they only knew.

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