Gluten May Soon Be On The Table for Celiac Patients

 Cassidy DeMasi

Dr. Barbato

11/26/2025

                                           Gluten May Soon Be On The Table for Celiac Patients 

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder where the body reacts abnormally to gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. When someone with celiac disease eats this protein, their immune system attacks something called the villi in the lining of the small intestine. These are tiny structures that help absorb nutrients. This damage not only makes it hard for the body to get the nutrients it needs but also can deteriorate the intestinal lining. 

Researchers are believed to have found a way to control these proteins from binding to each other using the identification of genes in genetics. They have found a new drug that could potentially block this protein from binding. This was done using genetic testing.

"In celiac disease, gluten causes inflammation and damage to the intestines. This happens because gluten attaches to specific proteins in the body called human leukocyte antigens (HLA). Before gluten can attach to HLA, an enzyme in the small intestine called transglutaminase 2 (TG2) changes the structure of gluten through a process called deamidation. In people with celiac disease, this deamidation makes gluten more harmful, leading to damage and inflammation in the small intestine. The drug ZED1227 could help by blocking TG2, preventing the harmful changes to gluten, and reducing intestinal damage. (New Hope for Celiac Disease: Promising Drug Shows Progress in Clinical Trials | Celiac Disease Foundation, 2024).

The patients who received the drug in the clinical trial were able to reintroduce gluten back into their diets with no issue. This science is groundbreaking because, unfortunately, even when trying to keep gluten out of a patient's diet, they are inadvertently exposed. This new finding could help save patients who are accidentally exposed to gluten.

Sources 

Celiac Disease - Allergy & Asthma Network. (2024, October 22). Allergy & Asthma Network. https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/health-a-z/celiac-disease/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22862937281&gbraid=0AAAAADoPaAJhxa7QG5BQag22V_I9uw1_7&gclid=CjwKCAiA55rJBhByEiwAFkY1QG_27D-Fo0HKAZUs6uoH5i_W9Xp_kzc8XqMqb2A6OYFkpIO28xhBahoCDPoQAvD_BwE

‌New Hope for Celiac Disease: Promising Drug Shows Progress in Clinical Trials | Celiac Disease Foundation. (2024, July 24). Celiac Disease Foundation; Celiac. https://celiac.org/2024/07/24/maki-trial-2024/

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