Development of Vaccines in Celiac Disease Therapies

Abstract

In Western countries, celiac disease is a relatively common genetic immune disorder. When a patient ingests foods containing gluten, the gluten protein acts as an allergen and can cause the patient to develop the disease. The disease is not directly fatal, but its onset can be very uncomfortable for the patient, and its complications may lead to an increased chance of developing certain cancers. A lifetime gluten-free diet has already been the standard course to prevent celiac disease symptoms, but it can be challenging. In past studies, researchers have attempted to prevent patients from developing or mitigating their condition through vaccines as a treatment. However, with research stagnating and clinical trials being canceled, the production of a celiac disease vaccine is currently experiencing a bottleneck. Fortunately, the treatment of celiac disease is not the only way to build tolerance through vaccines; other therapies under investigation as well as new vaccine design ideas may be effective in treating celiac disease. This review systematically summarizes the scientific status of the celiac disease and discusses the potential of vaccine as a promising treatment for celiac disease.