Clinical Research Directory

Single-cell Immune Response to Controlled Gluten Ingestion in Pediatric Celiac Disease

This study investigates how the immune system of children with celiac disease responds to controlled, small amounts of gluten. Children on a strict gluten-free diet are randomly assigned to receive either placebo, 50 mg of gluten, or 5 g of gluten once daily for three days, simulating real-life accidental exposure or dietary transgression. Blood samples are collected on Day 1 (before gluten intake) and Day 8 (five days after the last dose). Stool and urine samples are also collected for complementary analyses. Using single-cell ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing, T-cell receptor sequencing, microRNA profiling, and exploratory metabolomics, the study aims to characterize changes in immune cell populations and gene expression after gluten exposure. The objective is to determine whether even very small amounts of gluten induce measurable systemic immune responses and whether these responses differ according to the dose administered. Understanding these mechanisms may support the development of new biomarkers and improve clinical management of pediatric celiac disease.

Dietary Approach to Mild-to-moderate Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a systemic chronic inflammatory immune-mediated disease whose etiopathogenetic mechanisms involve genetic predisposition, and immunological and environmental factors. Its prevalence is about 3% in adults, and it is characterized by well-demarcated, erythematous plaques, covered by silvery-white scales, in elbows, knees, trunk, and scalp. However, psoriasis is far from being considered just a dermatologic condition because the cytokine's cascade, which lays behind its inflammatory and immune-mediated pathogenesis, can determine multiple systemic manifestations. In addition, several patients with psoriasis often complains of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Therefore, authors focused their attention over the gut-skin axis and its possible pathogenetic and immunoregulatory role in psoriasis (i.e., altered gut barrier, increased blood concentration of gut microbiota-derived metabolites, systemic inflammation). In this context, several dietetic approaches (e.g., Mediterranean, low calories, protein-restricted, vegetarian diets, and gluten-free diet, GFD) have shown a certain efficacy in improve psoriasis cutaneous and systemic manifestations. In recent years, the existence of a wheat-related disorder in patients who do not suffer from CD or wheat allergy (WA) has been definitively ascertained and defined as Non-Celiac Wheat Sensitivity (NCWS). Its prevalence in the general population is unknown, but self-reported NCWS is around 10%. This condition is characterized by both GI and extraintestinal symptoms, which are triggered by wheat ingestion. In these patients, wheat ingestion might lead to alteration in intestinal permeability and gut microbiota and to systemic immune activation and inflammation. Based on the evidence of gut involvement in the pathogenesis and clinical manifestation of psoriasis, as well as on the ability of gluten/wheat to increase intestinal permeability, it could be hypothesized that gluten/wheat may represents one of the pathogenetic environmental factors of psoriasis and that its intake may be able to worsen symptoms in affected patients. The investigators hypothesize that a wheat-free diet (WFD) can reduce the inflammatory state and ameliorate the clinical symptoms in psoriasis patients. The successive clinical and immunologic reaction to the re-exposure to wheat ingestion, performed by an open challenge, will be also evaluated to confirm a wheat-dependent mechanism and to understand the underlining physiopathology.

Immune Responses to Gluten

This is a study of immune responses after eating gluten powder in people with celiac disease and healthy controls.