The onset of celiac cancer, an autoimmune disorder marked by an insensitivity to gluten, may be be trigged by a typically symptomless viral infectionmany people contract in childhood, new research suggests.

Scientists dont known exactly what causes celiac, but its likely a confluence of genetic and environmental factors. The Mayo Clinic estimates that celiac affects only about 1 percent of the population in Western countries, even though about 30 percentage of Americans carry a gene that predisposes them to the disease. Theres also evidence to suggest that a significant proportion of people with celiac are undiagnosed and unaware they have the disease.

Reovirus might trigger the immune reply that leads to celiac disease, according to a study published Friday in the publication Science .( Although a portion of the study was in mouse rather than humen, the results offer growing proof to support the hypothesi that viruses can disrupt the bodys immune system .)

Its very important to do human studies, but also to have animal models to establish cause-effect relationships, Dr. Bana Jabri, director of studies at the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center and co-author of the new analyse, told The Huffington Post.

What one needs is actually to go back and forth between findings, from human to mouse and mouse back to human, she said.

Jabris study had two phases. In phase one, the researchers genetically engineered mice to be susceptible to celiac illnes, then uncovered them to human reovirus and fed them gluten. The mices inflammatory immune response to the gluten was comparable to whats seen in humen with celiac disease.

Phase two of the study investigated patients with celiac illness and found that individuals with celiac had higher levels of antibodies against reovirus than the control population.

The theory that new infections can trigger an autoimmune ailment existed before this study. The new research, however, isthe first tractable experimental model to tackle this question, Julie Pfeiffer, associate prof of microbiology at University of Texas Southwestern, told NPR.

More analyzes in humen are warranted , noted Pfeiffer, who was not involved in the research.

Prevention is crucial for people who dont have celiac disease but who carry the gene for it.

When a disease develops, its never from the working day to the other, Jabri told. Its like a cancer. When someone starts to have a tumor that they can touch, things have been happening for years. Its the same thing for autoimmune disorders.

Understanding celiac triggers is a step toward prevention.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that inspires a reaction in the small intestine when a person eats gluten, a protein often may be in wheat, rye and barely. The immune reaction prevents the body from assimilating nutrients; over time, it injuries the small intestines lining and can cause diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, bloating and anemia. Children with celiac disease can have growth and development problems.

There is no cure for celiac cancer, but following a strict gluten-free diet can ease symptoms.

Gluten can be difficult to digest, even in people who dont have celiac illnes. Some people who test negative for the disease may have whats known as non-celiac wheat sensitivity, which can cause diarrhea, belly ache, bloating and altered mood.

For individuals with a family history of celiac disease, research into the ailments development is a promising first step toward prevention. However, preventative care is difficult because celiac may be multiple diseases meaning no one cure or prevention technique would work for everyone.

Still, if further research confirms the hypothesi that reovirus is indeed a celiac trigger, the next step could be developing a inoculation against the virus.

Thats very feasible, Jabri said.

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