Gluten-Stimulated Interleukin-2 Secretion Useful for Diagnosing Celiac Disease

Follow Drugslib on

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on June 23, 2025.

via HealthDay

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.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2025-06-24 06:00

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords