People, Porridge, and Peptides: Avenin Toxicity in Coeliac Disease
Depending on which country you live, oats are excluded from a gluten free diet for the treatment of coeliac disease. Evidence to support the oat debate in coeliac disease is weak, and there are no clinical tests to guide individual dietary recommendations. We have explored the immunology of oats in coeliac disease by assessing the T cell stimulatory activity of gluten-like proteins in oats (avenins). Half of coeliac volunteers have T cells specific for avenin peptides after oat challenge but not before. Immunity to oats is common in coeliac disease; a diagnostic test based on these findings appears feasible.