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Researchers argued that a harmless virus was revealed to cause the celiac condition.
STATES CHRONICLE – Researchers discovered that a regularly harmless virus might cause the celiac condition. Scientists have studied the virus’ effects on mice. Some of the mice were genetically modified and predisposed to the celiac condition. Those who got infected with the reovirus were likely to have an immune reaction regarding gluten compared to mice which were not infected with the terrible virus.
A harmless reovirus was proved to be more harmful than ever believed
The immune response of mice appears to be similar to the effects of the disease on people. Researchers pointed out that human reovirus infections are very common in humans and they usually do not cause any symptoms. Nevertheless, the new research also indicated that patients who were diagnosed with celiac disease indicated higher levels of antibodies against the virus than those who were not diagnosed with this illness.
Scientists argue that this type of infection might permanently impact the patient’s immune system, developing the suitable environment that could trigger an autoimmune disease, as the celiac one. Dr. Bana Jabri, the director of research at the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center, stated that a virus which does not trigger any symptoms can still cause a lot of harm, setting the appropriate stage for an autoimmune disease to unleash.
Scientists were surprised to see that the reovirus caused the celiac condition
Specialists also unveiled patients with a celiac condition who indicated to have high levels of reovirus antibodies and who also had the expression of a gene which encodes IRF1 protein. In the studies in which lab mice were tested, experts discovered that IRF1 had a vital role in the development of gluten intolerance after the mouse was infected with reovirus.
Nevertheless, scientists indicated underlined the idea that only a certain strain of reovirus, namely T1L, was responsible for causing the immune response which was revealed in the study. Scientists indicated that there is no other evidence which could suggest that other types of reovirus might have the same effect. Nevertheless, they have also tested another strain, the T3D one, which appeared to be genetically different from the first one, T1L. Moreover, this strain did not provoke an immune response.
Researchers also highlighted the idea that factors like the overall health and the genes of a person might also play a significant role which could establish whether the virus will trigger celiac condition or not.
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