Maize prolamins could induce a gluten-like cellular immune response in some celiac disease patients.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to investigate whether maize prolamins in gluten-free diets could trigger a celiac-like immune response in some non-responsive celiac disease patients.
Results Summary
The study suggests that maize prolamins might induce an immune response similar to gluten in a rare subset of celiac disease patients who do not respond to a strict gluten-free diet, potentially necessitating a maize-free diet for these individuals.
Population
Celiac disease patients, particularly those non-responsive to a strict gluten-free diet.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
dietary gluten | increase | autoimmune-mediated enteropathy | genetically prone individuals | - | triggered | #1 |
strict lifelong gluten-free diet | no change | celiac disease | CD patients | - | current treatment | #2 |
strict gluten-free diet | no change | symptoms | some CD patients | - | symptoms do not remit | #3 |
maize | decrease | dietary response | some CD patients | - | lack of response could be related to | #4 |
peptides from maize prolamins | increase | celiac-like immune response | some CD patients | - | could induce | #5 |
gluten peptides | increase | immune response of the intestinal mucosa | - | - | induce | #6 |
peptides from maize prolamins | increase | cellular immune response | - | - | could also be tested to determine whether they also induce | #7 |
maize prolamins | decrease | health status | a very limited subgroup of CD patients, especially those that are non-responsive | - | could be harmful | #8 |
maize-free diet | increase | dietary regimen | a very limited subgroup of CD patients, especially those that are non-responsive | - | should follow | #9 |
Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune-mediated enteropathy triggered by dietary gluten in genetically prone individuals. The current treatment for CD is a strict lifelong gluten-free diet. However, in some CD patients following a strict gluten-free diet, the symptoms do not remit. These cases may be refractory CD or due to gluten contamination; however, the lack of response could be related to other dietary ingredients, such as maize, which is one of the most common alternatives to wheat used in the gluten-free diet. In some CD patients, as a rare event, peptides from maize prolamins could induce a celiac-like immune response by similar or alternative pathogenic mechanisms to those used by wheat gluten peptides. This is supported by several shared features between wheat and maize prolamins and by some experimental results. Given that gluten peptides induce an immune response of the intestinal mucosa both in vivo and in vitro, peptides from maize prolamins could also be tested to determine whether they also induce a cellular immune response. Hypothetically, maize prolamins could be harmful for a very limited subgroup of CD patients, especially those that are non-responsive, and if it is confirmed, they should follow, in addition to a gluten-free, a maize-free diet.