Chronic Inflammation Permanently Alters Gut Cells

Gluten-free food may seem like just a fad, but for people with celiac disease, consuming grains like wheat, barley and rye can have a terrible effect on their gastrointestinal system. In those with celiac disease, gluten causes the immune system to attack the lining of the intestine, which becomes chronically inflamed. 

Researchers in the lab of Bana Jabri, MD, Ph.D. at the University of Chicago have now found that the chronic inflammation that is a hallmark of celiac disease causes permanent changes in the immune cells that reside in the gut. Once that has happened, the cells cannot recover, even when a patient follows a gluten-free diet for a long time.

Sources: University of Chicago, NIDDK, Cell