May 26/Rome, Italy/Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- A new study, "Two Prolamin Peptides from Durum Wheat Preclude Celiac Disease-specific T Cell Activation by Gluten Proteins," is now available. According to a study from Rome, Italy, "Celiac disease (CD) is a permanent intolerance to wheat prolamins and related proteins displayed by genetically susceptible individuals. Blocking or modulation of CD-specific T cell response by altered prolamin peptides are currently considered as a potential alternative to the only effective therapy of CD based on a life-long gluten-free diet."

"Two prolamin peptides, the 9-mer ASRVAPGQQ and the 10-mer GTVGVAPGQQ sequences, were identified by mass spectrometry in the peptic/tryptic digest of prolamins (PTP) from durum wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum) cv. Adamello, and investigated for their ability to preclude the stimulation of CD-specific mucosal T cells by gluten proteins. Gluten-specific polyclonal intestinal T cell lines from five CD children (mean age five years) were exposed to 50microg/ml of a deamidated PTP from whole flour of common wheat (T. aestivum) cv. San Pastore, and tested for proliferation and production of interferon-gamma (INF-gamma) and interleukin 10 (IL-10). The same experiment was performed in the presence of 20microg/ml of the 9-mer or the 10-mer peptide. T cells exposed to PTP showed a threefold increase in proliferation and INF-gamma production, and a significant (p