What antibodies are associated with celiac disease?

Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition characterized by an inappropriate immune response to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. The primary antibodies associated with this condition are anti-transglutaminase antibodies.

These antibodies target tissue transglutaminase (tTG), an enzyme that plays a critical role in the deamidation of gluten, which then enhances the immunogenicity of gluten peptides. In patients with celiac disease, the immune system mistakenly recognizes these modified gluten peptides as threats, leading to an autoimmune response that damages the intestinal mucosa.

The presence of anti-transglutaminase antibodies is a crucial serological marker used in the diagnosis of celiac disease, alongside other tests such as anti-endomysial antibodies and clinical evidence of malabsorption or intestinal damage.

The other antibody types listed do play roles in different autoimmune diseases but are not associated with celiac disease. Anti-topoisomerase antibodies are linked to systemic sclerosis, antimitochondrial antibodies are associated with primary biliary cholangitis, and antinuclear antibodies are a hallmark of systemic lupus erythematosus and other autoimmune disorders. Hence, the identification of anti-transglutaminase antibodies as the primary autoimmune marker