by A research team from Mass General for Children (MGfC) and 13 other institutions has discovered a strain of Bacteroides vulgatus that may play a protective role in maintaining the intestinal barrier against the development of celiac disease. This breakthrough finding could have significant implications for the prevention and treatment of the autoimmune condition. The study, published in Pediatric Research, was a collaborative effort between scientists from Ohio, Italy, and Spain, in addition to researchers from the Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center (MIBRC) at MGfC.
The research stems from the ongoing Celiac Disease Genomic, Environmental, Microbiome and Metabolomic Study (CDGEMM), a decade-long longitudinal study involving approximately 600 infants and children from the United States, Italy, and Spain. The CDGEMM has provided extensive environmental and genomic data, as well as biological samples, contributing to a deeper understanding of celiac disease and its potential causes.
One of the key focuses of the study involved examining the epigenetic profiling of various bacterial species in the small intestine of genetically predisposed individuals and healthy controls. By studying the effects of gluten on the gut microbiome, researchers aimed to uncover potential therapeutic targets for preventing celiac disease.
Using human gut organoid models developed by Dr. Stefania Senger at the Intestinal Organoid Program at MIBRC, the researchers analyzed tissue samples from children at risk of developing celiac disease and compared them to samples from healthy controls. Through their analysis, they identified five microbial strains that appeared to have a protective effect against the development of celiac disease, which affects approximately 1% of the U.S. population.
Individuals genetically predisposed to developing celiac disease can experience a breakdown in the intestinal barrier when consuming gluten, leading to the passage of gluten peptides and subsequent damage to the small intestine. Villi in the small intestine become blunted, which can result in malabsorption and various symptoms affecting multiple body systems.
When the researchers introduced gluten to the gut samples grown from tissue taken during endoscopies, they observed increased intestinal permeability, inflammation, and cell death. However, when the B. vulgatus strain was introduced to the affected organoids, these three factors improved, thanks to epigenetic reprogramming of the inflammatory pathways responsible for antigen trafficking.
While the sample size for this study was small, consisting of only four organoids, the research provides significant insights into the mechanisms that precede the development of celiac disease. Dr. Alessio Fasano, senior author of the study, emphasizes the importance of understanding these mechanisms to ultimately prevent the onset of celiac disease by manipulating the gut microbiome in infants who are genetically predisposed.
The researchers also highlight the role of gut dysbiosis, an imbalance in the gut microbiome, in the development of celiac disease. They suggest that the loss of protective bacterial strains is characteristic of children who go on to develop the autoimmune condition. Dr. Fasano believes that this comprehensive research program holds promise not only for celiac disease but also for other autoimmune conditions. By targeting and modulating the gut microbiome, researchers may be able to intervene and prevent the progression of these diseases in people at risk.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
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