Gluten-free diet in psoriasis patients with antibodies to gliadin results in decreased expression of tissue transglutaminase

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Tissue transglutaminase 2 is linked with inappropriate alpha-synuclein

and with inappropriate beta-amyloid, the latter providing a potential

link with an autism subgroup (2). Of course, IGA antibodies against

tissue transglutaminase are prominent in celiac disease. Fascinatingly

and perhaps importantly, tissue transglutaminase irregularities may play

a role in Parkinson's (alpha-synuclein) and in Alzheimer's

(beta-amyloid), even in individuals who seem to have neither celiac

disease nor apparent gluten hypersensitivity.

According to Pubmed, the study linked herein (1) is cited by no other

studies, despite the seeming significance of a gluten-free diet's

lowering of tissue transglutaminase.

Given that many autistic children respond well to a gluten-free diet,

and given aberrant utilization of tissue transglutaminase in both

Parkinson's and Alzheimer's (citations to follow in a subsequent post),

there seems a possibility that excessive consumption of gluten has an

unexpectedly large range of adverse phenotypes.

//

1. Gluten-free diet in psoriasis patients with antibodies to gliadin

results in decreased expression of tissue transglutaminase and fewer

Ki67+ cells in the dermis. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14690336>

Michaëlsson G, Ahs S, Hammarström I, Lundin IP, Hagforsen E.

Acta Derm Venereol. 2003;83(6):425-9.

http://www.medicaljournals.se/acta/content/?doi=10.1080/00015550310015022

Previous studies have shown that 16% of patients with psoriasis vulgaris

have IgA and/or IgG antibodies to gliadin, but few have antibodies to

endomysium. The increase in duodenal intraepithelial lymphocytes was

mild. Still, highly significant clinical improvement was observed after

3 months on a gluten-free diet. This study surveys certain

immunohistological aspects of involved and non-involved skin in 28

AGA-positive psoriasis patients before and after 3 months of a

gluten-free diet. Staining was performed for CD4+ T lymphocytes,

Langerhans' cells, endothelium, proliferating (Ki67) cells and tissue

transglutaminase. In the entire group of patients, as well as in those

on a gluten-free diet as the only treatment, Ki67 + cells in involved

dermis were highly significantly decreased after the diet. There was a

significant decrease in Ki67 + cells even in patients without increased

intraepithelial lymphocytes. Tissue transglutaminase was highly

overexpressed in involved skin in the papillary endothelium, and

decreased by 50% after gluten-free diet. The possible role of tissue

transglutaminase in the pathogenesis of psoriasis needs further

investigation.

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2. High levels of Alzheimer beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP) in

children with severely autistic behavior and aggression.

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16948926>

Sokol DK, Chen D, Farlow MR, Dunn DW, Maloney B, Zimmer JA, Lahiri DK.

J Child Neurol. 2006 Jun;21(6):444-9.