Celiac disease is an autoimmune reaction with damage to the villae of the small intestine.

Does anyone know, with the DQ1 genes and neurological symptoms, is there an autoimmue reaction? Or another kind of physiological action or reaction? In the brain, or in the nervous system?

Thanks, Redda in Ohio

two DQ1 genes

Hi Redda,

Dr. Hadjivassiliou is one neurologist who has published many articles about the gluten/nervous system connection. He believes that gluten attacks the brain directly just like gluten can attack the gut and the skin. IMHO, I believe one day it will be realized that gluten attacks every organ.
Anne

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...&dopt=Abstract

Hi Redda,

In the book Dangerous Grains, a connection between gluten and autoimmune diseases is discussed based on "molecular mimicry". The gluten proteins leak into the blood stream and appear similar to proteins making up our own tissue. The immune system begins production of antibodies to attack the invader protein (gluten) but instead attack internal molecules that are very similar. This theory shows how gluten could be a trigger for an autoimmune disease.

Cara has put together a great resource called The Gluten File http://jccglutenfree.googlepages.com/ if you have not seen it scroll down the right hand side and you will find a section on gluten and neurological manifestations.

I was diagnosed with MS in 1998. I have DQ1 and have a definite increase in neurological symptoms if I eat gluten. I have been gluten free for over 3 years. I have not had an increase in lesions during this time and a few have gone away. I am not symptom free but recently did the YORK delayed food allergy tests (IGG based) and learned I have reactions to other major food groups (dairy, egg, soy, legumes, citrus, pineapple). Since I have removed these I have had a lessening in the tingling in my legs.

Do you have neurological and GI symptoms? Unfortunately, few neurologists are on board with the gluten/neurological connection.

--Judy

Hi Redda,
My grandson age 10 has two DQ1 genes (one from me to his dad to him) and has failure to thrive, allergies...

I also have two DQ1 genes & have had the brain fog & mild depression lift on the GF diet, I am also dairy free & have other food allergies.

My daughter in law that has at least one DQ1 gene has dyslexia and is on antidepressants.

It is my opinion that the DQ1 gene is worse than the DQ2 or DQ8 because you get all the same symptoms plus the neuro stuff, or at least that is the way it works in my family.

My dear 13 year old nephew is double dq1 and has had fairly severe neurological damage that is most likely permanent.

Be sure to read the articles by Dr. Hadjii that Anne mentions. They are all on the gluten file site listed in Judys post.

http://jnnp.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/72/5/560

I found this paragraph to be most interesting.

"Isn't the neurological damage nutritional?"
Nutrient deficiencies (B12, folate, vitamin D, vitamin E) are rare in this neurological population. Given that two thirds of these patients have no enteropathy this is hardly surprising. The concept of the neurological manifestations being nutritional in origin is now outmoded. Intestinal mucosal damage in coeliac disease is the result of both humoral and T cell mediated inflammation. Such inflammation is not, however, confined to the gut, as activated HLA restricted gliadin specific T cells25 and antigliadin antibodies are found systemically. Antigliadin antibodies are also found in the CSF.26 Postmortem findings from two of our patients with gluten ataxia has shown perivascular cuffing with both CD4 and CD8 cells. This inflammation was primarily seen in the white matter of the cerebellum. There was also marked but patchy Purkinje cell loss. We have also found antibodies against Purkinje cells in patients with gluten ataxia. Our research suggests that IgG antigliadin antibodies cross react with epitopes on Purkinje cells from human cerebellum.27 Characterisation of the anti-Purkinje cell antibodies by immunoblotting may provide a useful marker for the diagnosis of gluten ataxia in a manner analogous to the use of antiendomysium antibodies as a marker for coeliac disease or the anti-Yo antibody in paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration.

Hi Redda~

My daughter and I both have double DQ1. I think you are familiar with our story, but if you need a refresher, I have it in The Gluten File. My only neuro symptoms were related to B12 deficiency, but my ten year old daughter's seemed to be more in line with gluten ataxia (?) and directly related to gluten exposure. Thankfully we caught it in her very early. Another daughter had seizures... I suspect those were related to B6 deficiency.

Glad you found us here~

Cara

Hi Redda,

You sound familiar. Weren't you on OBT (old BrainTalk)?

Anyhoo, I'm not sure about the connection. I have searched for papers about the connection between Sjogren's syndrome and the DQ1 genes. I have double DQ1 (see my signature). My aunt has Sjogren's syndrome and lupus. I suspect she has some DQ1 genes, but haven't shared with her this information since she's not on the internet. My nephew has Asperger's syndrome. No one in my immediate family seems interested in getting genetic testing.

See my post on this topic: http://forums.braintalk2.org/showthread.php?t=895

I would really like to know if there is a link because I'm paranoid about getting some type of autoimmune disease. I found a paper about lupus being linked to DQB1*0501 in Thai people, but since I'm not Thai (I'm Italian), I didn't know what to think of it. Also, this paper is more specific to HLA-DR types which I know nothing about in myself.

Claire

Hi Redda:
Here is some info I've received, somewhere/from someone, about HLA DQ genes. It's complicated but does explain it. I'm not sure if it specifically answers your questions but there are references at the bottom that might help lead you further in the right direction - besides all of the great links you've already received from others.

http://www.enabling.org/ia/celiac/cel-hla.html#Q6

I have a little more I could offer here:

The neurological problems associated with gluten can be either/or/both related to nutritional deficiency and direct immunological attack.

The neurological symptoms that can be attributed to vitamin deficiency are pretty well defined, especially deficiencies of folate, B1, B6, B12, E, CoQ10~ and others (carnitine, ?).

They are actively looking and discovering antibodies associated with gluten ataxia and gluten related peripheral neuropathy. Grace listed one good reference above:
Here are a few others I pulled from TGF:

Anti-ganglioside antibodies in coeliac disease with neurological disorders. PMID: 16458087 Mar 2006

Autoantibody targeting of brain and intestinal transglutaminase in gluten ataxia.
PMID: 16476935 Feb 2006

[Progressive myoclonic ataxia associated with antibodies against Purkinje cells in a celiac patient]
PMID: 16454613 Dec 2005

Clinical findings and anti-neuronal antibodies in coeliac disease with neurological disorders

Ganglioside reactive antibodies in the neuropathy associated with celiac disease June 2002

Gluten sensitivity is an important cause of apparently idiopathic ataxia and may be progressive. The ataxia is a result of immunological damage to the cerebellum, to the posterior columns of the spinal cord, and to peripheral nerves.
Clinical, radiological, neurophysiological, and neuropathological characteristics of gluten ataxia

Patients with gluten ataxia have antibodies against Purkinje cells. Antigliadin antibodies cross-react with epitopes on Purkinje cells.
The humoral response in the pathogenesis of gluten ataxia.