Array 3X – WHEAT/GLUTEN PROTEOME REACTIVITY AND AUTOIMMUNITY

Gluten sensitivity has become a popular word but is everything really connected to gluten?

Of course not, but to be honest, there are still a lot of misconceptions and shut eyes when it comes to diet and gluten in particular.

In the most simple terms, gluten sensitivity is an improper immune system response to consuming gluten-containing food. The reactions are quite diverse and include multiple wheat proteins, combined with some of our own enzymes that form the pathogenic molecule that our immune systems recognize as a threat and then tries to destroy it, and while doing that it destroys our own cells, tissues and organs.

The main, most obvious and only “medically recognized” gluten sensitivity is called Celiac disease also called gluten-sensitive enteropathy. In Celiac disease the reaction is so strong that it totally destroys intestinal mucosa to the point that nutrient absorption is critically impaired. Yet 30% of the celiac disease does not present with any digestive symptoms.

The emphasis on Celiac disease as the main manifestation of Gluten-Reactivity has been questioned. It is now accepted that Gluten-Reactivity is a systemic illness that can manifest in a range of organ systems. Such manifestations can occur independently of the presence of the classic small-bowel lesion that defines CD. That Gluten-Reactivity is regarded as principally a disease of the small bowel is a historical misconception.

The Gluten-Reactivity has been proposed to include not only CD, but also non-celiac gluten sensitive (NCGS) patients without mucosal lesions. From the skin (Dermatitis Herpetiformis, Psoriatic arthritis,  Alopecia areata, Dermatomyositis, Cutaneous vasculitis), to the muscles (inflammatory myopathies), to the brain (Gluten Ataxia, altered neurotransmitter production, Schizophrenia, peripheral neuralgias, idiopathic neuropathies) and beyond, pathology to gluten exposure can occur in multiple systems without evidence of an enteropathy.

Non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS)

Not all immune reactions to wheat present in Celiac like symptoms. It can also manifest as an extra-intestinal condition such as ataxia, inflamed joints or skin disorders. Wheat contains both cross-reactive and binding proteins, which play roles in autoimmunity.

There are shared amino acid between gliadin and human tissues. Due to this similarity, if antibodies are produced against gliadin, those could potentially mistake cerebellar tissue, or thyroid peroxidase for gliadin, and thus, attack self-tissue as if it were a foreign antigen.

Wheat/gluten sensitivity will, therefore, manifest in multiple tissues, causing long term damage that presents as autoimmune conditions later in life. This means your Hashimoto’s could be the consequence of your 10-year wheat consumption.

The latest studies show that 36% of people have wheat/gluten sensitivity.

Testing for wheat sensitivity is complex

Wheat is made up of multiple proteins and peptides. Therefore, to properly assess wheat/gluten reactivity, a full array of proteins and peptides must be included. Cyrex is a pioneer in the measurements of multiple wheat protein immune reactivities.

Early diagnosis lowers chance for developing another condition

Autoimmune disease, the third leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the industrialized world, is 10 times more common in gluten-sensitive enteropathy than in the general population. Thus, the burden on society from Gluten-Reactivity cannot be overestimated. Earlier detection might result in earlier treatment, a better quality of life, and an improved prognosis for these patients.

It is critical to diagnose gluten sensitivity as early as possible to prevent further diseases (but it is never too late). For instance diagnosis at age 4 means a 10% chance to develop another autoimmune condition. This raises to over 34% when diagnosed at age 20.

You should take this test if you suspect you may have reactions to wheat/gluten or if you just want to check to be sure it is safe for you to eat gluten-containing foods.

This test is used to identify possible:

• Celiac disease,
• non-celiac gluten sensitivity,
• non-celiac wheat sensitivity,
• dermatitis herpetiformis,
• gluten ataxia or
• other wheat/gluten-related disorder and
• assess autoimmune reactivity associated with wheat proteins and peptides.

Assessing wheat/gluten reactivity and intestinal autoimmunity is recommended for patients who:

• have non-responsive GI symptoms,
• present multiple-symptom complaints (including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia),
• suffer from early symptoms of autoimmunities including neuro-autoimmunity.

Consider Array 3X if you suffer from wheat-related disorders including:

• Thyroiditis
• Arthritis
• Myocarditis
• Dermatitis
• Endocrinopathy
• Polyendocrinopathy
• Osteoarthritis
• Pernicious anemia
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Other Inflammatory diseases

Cyrex Labs is an advanced clinical laboratory focusing on mucosal, cellular, and humoral immunology and specializing in antibody arrays for complex thyroid, gluten, and other food-associated autoimmunities and related neurodysregulation. Cyrex’s Scientific Advisory Board, comprised of experts from a variety of medical and research disciplines, brings together the latest findings from medical research and the assessment needs of today’s healthcare professionals. Out of this collaboration, Cyrex develops the next generation of clinical lab testing that is required to care for present-day complex maladies.

Cyrex’s Four Pillars of Excellence:

Antigen Purification System™ – ensures assessment of the un-adulterated antigen, resulting in greater specificity.

Optimized Antigen Concentration™ – optimum protein ratios to detect immune reactivity (i.e. Beef is much higher in protein than Oranges).

Antigen-Specific Validation™ – single antigen validation, rather than one arbitrarily chosen reference curve entire group of antigens.

Parallel Testing Technology™ – each specimen is validated in side-by-side duplicate.

Together, the Four Pillars of Excellence ensure accurate results.