Gluten-Stimulated Interleukin-2 Secretion Useful for Diagnosing Celiac Disease
MONDAY, June 23, 2025 -- Gluten-stimulated interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion is useful for diagnosis of celiac disease (CeD), according to a study published online June 9 in Gastroenterology.
Olivia G. Moscatelli, from The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Parkville, Australia, and colleagues examined the potential of a simple whole blood assay measuring IL-2 release (WBAIL-2) for detecting gluten-specific T cells in order to improve diagnosis of CeD. WBAIL-2 was assessed in 181 adults: 88 with CeD and 93 controls. In vitro IL-2 release was measured in whole blood after gluten peptide stimulation.
The researchers found that the WBAIL-2 assay demonstrated high accuracy for CeD diagnosis, even among those following a strict gluten-free diet. Optimized dual cut-offs showed high sensitivity and specificity in patients with CeD who were HLA-DQ2.5+ (90 and 95 percent, respectively), with lower sensitivity in patients with CeD who were HLA-DQ8+ (56 percent). There was a strong correlation for WBAIL-2 with the frequency of tetramer+ gluten-specific CD4+ T cells and serum IL-2 after gluten challenge. Gluten-induced severe symptoms, such as vomiting, were predicted by elevated WBAIL-2 levels.
"This represents a promising new tool to support diagnosis, especially for people who can't be diagnosed with the currently available methods," Moscatelli said in a statement. "We also found the strength of the IL-2 signal correlated with the severity of a patient's symptoms, allowing us to predict how severely a person with celiac disease might react to gluten, without them actually having to eat it."
Several authors disclosed ties to biopharmaceutical companies, including Novoviah Pharmaceuticals who provided the proprietary tubes and peptides for this study.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Read this next
Shunt Surgery Beneficial in Idiopathic Normal-Pressure Hydrocephalus
TUESDAY, Sept. 23, 2025 -- Shunt surgery significantly improves gait velocity at three months among patients with idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus with a response to...
Repetitive Head Impact Exposure Tied to Disruption at Depths of Sulci
TUESDAY, Sept. 23, 2025 -- Higher repetitive head impact (RHI) exposure is associated with microstructural disruption at the depths of sulci, according to a study published online...
Brain Abnormalities Seen in Epilepsy Patients With Psych Comorbidities
TUESDAY, Sept. 23, 2025 -- Epilepsy patients with versus without psychiatric comorbidities have a higher proportion of abnormal brain magnetic resonance imaging and...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.