Gluten’s effect on Intestinal Permeability & Autoimmune disease
Intestinal hyperpermeability, also known as "leaky gut," emerges when the protective layer of epithelial cells lining the gut becomes compromised. This situation holds significant implications as these epithelial cells serve as the vital barrier between the intestinal interior and the lamina propria, a location housing around 80% of our immune system. When the typically tightly sealed epithelial cells experience weakened connections known as tight junctions, it permits the intrusion of food particles and microbes into the body, consequently wreaking havoc on the immune system (1).
The intricate interplay of intestinal permeability seems to play a substantial role in the development of autoimmune diseases. The breaches in the epithelial layer, allowing unauthorized substances to penetrate, trigger an upregulation of the immune response. Notably, certain autoimmune conditions, such as Celiac's disease, could potentially be incited by imbalances in gut microbiota and alterations in the gut barrier (1).
At the heart of the intricate immune response in autoimmune celiac disease lies gluten, a primary protein present in wheat. Gluten's problematic component, gliadin, has been identified as a trigger for increased zonulin production, which in turn weakens tight junctions and escalates intestinal permeability (2). Intriguingly, this phenomenon isn't solely confined to individuals with a genetic predisposition to celiac disease (HLA-DQ2 or -DQ8); rather, it appears that all consumers of gluten experience heightened intestinal permeability upon consumption (2).
Consequently, an important question surfaces: does celiac disease contribute to intestinal permeability, or does heightened intestinal permeability set the stage for the onset of this autoimmune disorder? This intricate interplay underscores the complex nature of the relationship between gluten, intestinal hyperpermeability, and the initiation of autoimmune processes.
References:
Drabińska, N., Krupa-Kozak, U., & Jarocka-Cyrta, E. (2020). Intestinal Permeability in Children with Celiac Disease after the Administration of Oligofructose-Enriched Inulin into a Gluten-Free Diet-Results of a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Pilot Trial. Nutrients, 12(6), 1736. https://doi-org.uws.idm.oclc.org/10.3390/nu12061736.
Hollon, J., Puppa, E. L., Greenwald, B., Goldberg, E., Guerrerio, A., & Fasano, A. (2015). Effect of gliadin on permeability of intestinal biopsy explants from celiac disease patients and patients with non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Nutrients, 7(3), 1565–1576. https://doi-org.uws.idm.oclc.org/10.3390/nu7031565.
