Q and A: about health and research

Zonulin and Celiac Disease Elevated levels of zonulin, a key protein involved in regulating intestinal permeability, have been linked to various autoimmune diseases, most notably celiac disease (CD). Zonulin modulates the tight junctions between cells of the small intestine, which control the passage of substances into the bloodstream. When zonulin levels are abnormally high, the intestinal barrier can become compromised, leading to increased gut permeability or "leaky gut." In celiac disease, this heightened permeability may facilitate the entry of gluten peptides into the submucosa, where they trigger an inappropriate immune response. This response not only targets the gluten but also causes the immune system to mistakenly attack the body’s own tissues, leading to the characteristic damage seen in celiac disease. Despite zonulin's crucial role in gut permeability and its potential contribution to the pathogenesis of autoimmune conditions like celiac disease, it is rarel...