Molecular genetics of celiac disease

Celiac disease is an organ-specific autoimmune disease that arises as a consequence of hypersensitivity to the grain gluten in genetically susceptible individuals. Genetic predisposition are HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 genes, which are necessary but not sufficient for the emergence of celiac disease; it is involved in approximately 40% of the inheritance. In the course of the time, other genes that might contribute to the pathogenesis of celiac disease are being discovered. Among these so-called candidate genes, which are sought on the basis of known knowledge of molecular mechanisms of innate and adaptive immune responses, are for example: MIC, TNF, CTLA-4, CD28, ICOS, MYO9B, MMP, TLR and PTPN22. Immune response triggered by gluten peptide penetration into the lamina propria leads to mucosal damage. Different gluten peptides are involved in the pathology of celiac disease in different ways, some peptides trigger an adaptive immune response, while others, such as peptide p31- 43, triggers an innate immune response