"There are three key ingredients of inflammation and autoimmunity," says Dr. Fasano. "First, you are born with certain genes that predispose you. Second, there is an environmental trigger that causes your body to develop inflammation and eventually attack itself. Third, you have a 'leaky gut,' that is, your intestinal barrier does not keep antigens out of your body. That barrier is permeable and allows some antigens to penetrate. Celiac disease is the only autoimmune disorder for which we know the trigger - gluten. Because we know that trigger, one of our questions about autoimmunity already is answered in celiac disease. It minimizes the unknown variables we have to work with and makes celiac disease an ideal model for other inflammatory and autoimmune disorders."

Celiac disease can be diagnosed with a blood test once a patient shows symptoms. The only treatment for celiac disease is to remove the trigger, gluten, by prescribing a gluten-free diet. Dr. Fasano hopes the new research enterprise will change that.

"Our goal is personalized medicine. We hope to identify biomarkers to develop diagnostics for autoimmunity that can assist us to develop preventive strategies in the pre-clinical phase as well as to customize treatment for individuals based on their genetics and their microbiome," he says.

Much of the research into the intersection of the human genome and the microbiome centers around the gut, which is laden with bacteria, most of it beneficial and necessary for healthy function. Examining the genetics of an individual and the genetics of that patient's microbiome could one day guide doctors in developing treatment and prevention programs for celiac disease and other autoimmune disorders. Researchers at the Institute for Genome Sciences, led by Claire Fraser-Liggett, Ph.D., are world leaders in this field of research.

Shelia Cafferty, who now manages her gluten sensitivity with a gluten-free diet, says she knew immediately upon meeting Dr. Fasano that he would be the one to help her. "I could see how passionate he and his colleagues are about the research they do," she says. "I saw how amazing Alessio is and how amazing the research at the Center for Celiac research is. I stand in awe of what he is doing."

Though her symptoms were as simple as hives and gastrointestinal distress, they made a significant impact on her life, Mrs. Cafferty says. "When you don't feel good, when you don't feel up to par, you don't feel like doing the activities you'd normally do. It affects every aspect of your life," she says.

Finding a diagnosis for his wife, says Mr. Cafferty, was life-changing. "It's comforting," he says. "I couldn't stand to see her suffer."

Awareness of celiac disease and the complicated issues surrounding gluten intolerance is growing, Mrs. Cafferty says, but there is more work to be done: "A few years ago, the gluten-free diet was a lot more difficult than it is now. With increasing awareness of celiac disease and gluten sensitivity, it's much easier now to find great products that help me adhere to my prescribed diet. We have that awareness due to the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research."

"We hope our donation will help the center grow and keep raising the public consciousness about celiac disease and gluten intolerance," Mrs. Cafferty adds. "We want people to get diagnosed and prevent further damage to their bodies from consuming gluten. We want to get to the root of celiac disease, to find out what causes it and if it can be prevented. That makes so much more sense than just continuing to treat the symptoms. Dr. Fasano and his colleagues now are going to be able to take their research to the next level. So many people are going to benefit from this. Knowledge is power."

Source: University of Maryland Medical Center