Materials and methods for the treatment of celiac disease

Abstract

The present invention provides materials and methods for the treatment of celiac disease. In addition, the present invention provides materials and methods of monitoring the treatment of a subject having celiac disease.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating celiac disease in a subject in need thereof, comprising
 contacting the subject with a composition comprising one or more zonulin antagonists.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein contacting comprises orally administering the zonulin antagonist. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the zonulin antagonists is a peptide. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one peptide comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, and SEQ ID NO:24. 
     
     
         5 . A method of treating celiac disease in a subject in need thereof, comprising:
 contacting the intestine of the subject with a composition comprising a zonulin antagonist, wherein the zonulin antagonist comprises SEQ ID NO:15.   
     
     
         6 . A method of monitoring the treatment of celiac disease in a subject in need thereof, comprising:
 obtaining a first sample from the subject;   determining one or more of IL6, IL8, IL10, IFN-γ, and nitrates in the first sample;   obtaining a second sample from the subject;   determining one or more of IL6, IL8, IL10, IFN-γ, and nitrates in the second sample, wherein a difference in one or more of IL6, IL8, IL10, IFN-γ, and nitrates between the first sample and the second sample is indicative of a change in severity of celiac disease in the subject.   
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the first sample comprises PBMCs. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the second sample comprises PBMCs. 
     
     
         9 . Method of  claim 6 , wherein a zonulin antagonist is administered to the patient prior to obtaining the second sample, and a difference between samples is correlated to improvement in celiac disease. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 6 , further comprising administering a gluten challenge to the subject. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the challenge is administered after the first sample is obtained. 
     
     
         12 . A method of diagnosing celiac disease, comprising:
 administering a gluten challenge to a subject;   obtaining a sample from the subject;   determining IL6, IL8, IL10, IFN-γ, and/or nitrates in the sample; and   comparing IL6, IL8, IL10, IFN-γ, and/or nitrates in the sample to those obtained from a normal individual wherein a difference in one or more of IL6, IL8, IL10, IFN-γ, and/or nitrates indicates celiac disease in the subject.   
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the sample comprises PBMCs. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising obtaining a sample from the subject prior to administering a gluten challenge.