Is Celiac Disease an Autoimmune Disorder? Understanding the Immune Response to Gluten

Celiac disease is more than an allergy or intolerance to gluten. It is a serious autoimmune disorder. When people with celiac disease eat gluten, the immune system mistakenly attacks the body, creating serious damage and long-term health problems. 

Misunderstandings about celiac disease can cause people to shrug off the seriousness of the disorder. 

Below, we explore what celiac disease is, how it affects the body as an autoimmune disorder, and why early diagnosis that includes genetic testing is crucial for long-term health. 

What is Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by eating gluten. A protein found in grains like wheat, barley, and rye, gluten is also found in a surprising number of packaged foods. When someone with celiac eats gluten, their immune system misfires, attacking the small intestine and causing damage.

To stay fueled and healthy, the body relies on small, finger-like projections called villi inside the intestine to grab vital nutrients from the food. But when these villi are damaged over time by celiac disease, serious malnutrition, digestive issues, and other autoimmune symptoms can quickly affect your health. 

Although digestive changes are a well-known symptom of celiac disease, the autoimmune nature of the disease can also cause full body symptoms, including:

• Weight changes
• Joint pain
• Infertility
• Anemia and vitamin deficiencies
• Mood changes 
• Growth delays in children
• Weak dental enamel
• Osteoporosis
• Mouth sores and ulcers
• Itchy, blistering skin rashes

Read more: Breaking the Silence: Uncovering the Link Between Celia Disease and Infertility

What is an Autoimmune Disease?

The immune system is an incredible protector, detecting and removing harmful invaders from the body. It works 24/7 to keep bacteria, viruses, and other illnesses at bay. And works overtime to clear up sickness as quickly as possible. 

Autoimmune diseases create a glitch in the system, mistakenly attacking the body’s own healthy tissues. When the body behaves this way, the immune system causes damage, creates symptoms, and develops chronic health problems. 

Some well-known autoimmune diseases include Type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. Each disorder causes different symptoms, but they are all chronic conditions that require lifelong management. 

The Immune Response to Gluten in Celiac Disease

Gluten triggers an autoimmune response in people with celiac disease. When they ingest any gluten, the immune system reacts by producing antibodies. These antibodies attack a crucial enzyme called tissue transglutaminase (tTG), which is involved in the repair of the small intestine. 

This unwelcome immune response not only damages the nutrient-absorbing villi, but prevents the body from repairing itself, creating more damage as time goes by. 

How Does Celiac Disease Fit the Definition of an Autoimmune Disorder?

Over 100 autoimmune disorders have been detected so far, and research is still uncovering the wild ways the body can misfire. Autoimmune diseases are generally classified into two categories:

• Systemic: Disorders affecting the whole body or several organ systems. 
• Organ-specific: Disorders that target a specific organ or system 

Celiac disease is a systemic disorder. Despite being triggered in the small intestine, damage and symptoms from celiac disease can affect many organs in the body. 

Autoimmune disorders also share other characteristics with each other that help with their classification, including:

• Immune system involvement: When the immune system misfires, the body can mistakenly attack its own tissues. In celiac disease, the nutrient-absorbing villi in the small intestine are damaged by gluten, and the body cannot start repairing the damage when gluten is still present in the diet. 
• Genetic predisposition: Many autoimmune disorders have a genetic component. And most people with celiac disease carry HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8 genes. These genetic clues form the basis of genetic risk testing and offer the best opportunities for vital ongoing research. 
• Chronic in nature: Autoimmune disorders are lifelong conditions and require ongoing management. A completely gluten-free diet is necessary to protect the body and heal from previous damage.  

Associated Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases often develop together. Some disorders share the same genetic markers, which increases the likelihood of developing more than one autoimmune condition. 

Celiac disease patients are at a higher risk for developing other autoimmune disorders, including: 

• Type 1 Diabetes: Celiac disease and type 1 diabetes share some genetic markers in common, increasing the likelihood of 
• Autoimmune Thyroid Disease: Conditions like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease are more common in people with celiac disease.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis: An immune disorder leading to painful inflammation.
• Sjogren’s Syndrome: This autoimmune disease affects moisture-producing glands, leading to dry eyes and mouth.

Managing celiac disease through early diagnosis and a gluten-free diet can help reduce the risk of developing these and other autoimmune disorders.

The Importance of Early Diagnosis and Management

Untreated celiac disease leads to long-term health complications. Beyond malnutrition, it  increases the risk of developing more autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis, infertility, and certain cancers. 

Early diagnosis is essential to repair damage and avoid serious health risks. Once diagnosed, the only effective treatment for celiac disease is a strict gluten-free diet. But fortunately this diet offers dramatic results. 

A gluten-free diet allows the small intestine to heal and prevents further damage to the gut. Adopting a celiac lifestyle can be challenging, but it is easier to treat than many other autoimmune conditions. 

Starting a Gluten Free Diet

Adopting a gluten free diet goes beyond removing bread and pasta from the menu. Many foods include “hidden gluten” sources and must be avoided to stay healthy with celiac disease. Gluten can often hide in foods like:

• Pre-packaged meals and canned soups
• Condiments and dressings
• Sugary treats (as glucose syrup derived from wheat)
• Seasoned potato chips and snacks 
• Burgers, meatloaf, and other foods typically cooked with breadcrumbs

Using fresh and whole foods is the healthiest way to stay gluten free, but many pre-made grocery items carry certified gluten free labels for people with celiac disease to enjoy with confidence. 

Targeted Genomics: Your Path to Diagnosis

At Targeted Genomics, we know how critical an accurate diagnosis is to manage celiac disease as quickly as possible and prevent further damage to the body. Our at-home GlutenIDTM genetic risk test provides a convenient and reliable way to screen your genetic celiac disease risk from the comfort of your home. 

The kit includes a simple-to-use cheek swab, which is analyzed to determine your genetic risk. Used in tandem with blood work and diagnostic tests, genetic testing is part of a gold standard system for diagnosing or ruling out celiac disease in symptomatic patients. 

Stay ahead of the game and assess your risk today!