Pune researchers identify two bacteria for gluten disorder cure

Tuesday, Jul 11, 2023,

PUNE: Researchers from the city-based National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), who have been working to find a new approach to treat Celiac disease, claimed to have identified two bacteria in the small intestine of humans that can break down gluten.

Celiac disease (CeD) is a chronic immune-mediated disorder triggered by eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, in genetically susceptible people.

Based on their findings, the researchers have proposed that these bacteria and the associated glutenase enzymes be developed into probiotic therapy for Celiac disease treatment. The researchers said these bacteria, Brevibacterium case, and Staphylococcus Arlette, were found in the digestive system of healthy relatives of people with Celiac disease.

Sahabram Devala, a doctoral student at NCCS, used a special technique and found that the two bacterial strains were capable of producing enzymes that can break down gluten.

"Once introduced into the gut, these gluten-degrading bacteria may help break down gluten before it reaches the small intestine. This can reduce its immunogenicity and provide relief to those with Celiac disease," Dr. Yogesh Shouche, honorary scientist, NCCS, and professor at Azim Premji University, told TOI.

The scientists specifically examined tissue samples taken from the duodenum, which is the first part of the small intestine, of healthy relatives with a higher chance of developing Celiac disease.

These individuals were chosen because they are genetically predisposed to Celiac disease and may show early signs of the disease or have a higher risk of developing it in the future. By studying their duodenal biopsies, we aimed to identify any potential bacteria or enzymes that could help in treating the condition by breaking down gluten," said Dr Shouche.

"B. case produces an enzyme called prolyl endopeptidase (PEP), while S. Arlette produces an enzyme called glutamyl endopeptidase (GEP). These enzymes can break down parts of gluten called 'gliadin peptides', which are responsible for the immune response in Celiac disease," said Dr. Om Prakash, former scientist, NCMR-NCCS and deputy's head and associate professor, Symbiosis Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability (SCCCS), Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Lavale, Pune.

Dr. Govind Makharia, gastroenterologist at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, added that further research was, however, needed to fully understand the effectiveness and safety of these probiotics. Dr. Vineet Ahuja from AIIMS was also part of the study, which was recently published in the Journal of Biosciences, distributed in print outside India and online worldwide by Springer.

Ishi Khosla, clinical nutritionist and president of the Celiac Society of India told TOI, "Celiac disease is a lifelong condition that one is genetically predisposed to and requires the presence of gluten to manifest itself. It can present with a variety of symptoms, both intestinal and extra-intestinal, and can affect individuals from early childhood through late adulthood. Being autoimmune, it is a common condition, impacting approximately one in a hundred people, particularly Caucasians, Middle-Easterns, and West-Asians, including Indian and Pakistani populations ."

Khosla added, "This is a potentially promising strategy mentioned in the study. Long-term studies on humans to validate these findings would be needed."

THE TIMES OF INDIA