Elevated whole blood assay IL-2 levels predict gluten-induced severe symptoms, such as vomiting<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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MONDAY, June 23, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Gluten-stimulated interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion is useful for diagnosis of celiac disease (CeD), according to a study published online June 9 in Gastroenterology<\/em>.<\/p>\n Olivia G. Moscatelli, from The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Parkville, Australia, and colleagues examined the potential of a simple whole blood assay measuring IL-2 release (WBAIL-2) for detecting gluten-specific T cells in order to improve diagnosis of CeD. WBAIL-2 was assessed in 181 adults: 88 with CeD and 93 controls. In vitro IL-2 release was measured in whole blood after gluten peptide stimulation.<\/p>\n The researchers found that the WBAIL-2 assay demonstrated high accuracy for CeD diagnosis, even among those following a strict gluten-free diet. Optimized dual cut-offs showed high sensitivity and specificity in patients with CeD who were HLA-DQ2.5+ (90 and 95 percent, respectively), with lower sensitivity in patients with CeD who were HLA-DQ8+ (56 percent). There was a strong correlation for WBAIL-2 with the frequency of tetramer+ gluten-specific CD4+ T cells and serum IL-2 after gluten challenge. Gluten-induced severe symptoms, such as vomiting, were predicted by elevated WBAIL-2 levels.<\/p>\n “This represents a promising new tool to support diagnosis, especially for people who can’t be diagnosed with the currently available methods,” Moscatelli said in a statement. “We also found the strength of the IL-2 signal correlated with the severity of a patient’s symptoms, allowing us to predict how severely a person with celiac disease might react to gluten, without them actually having to eat it.”<\/p>\n Several authors disclosed ties to biopharmaceutical companies, including Novoviah Pharmaceuticals who provided the proprietary tubes and peptides for this study.<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n