Celiac disease permanently reshapes immune cells in the intestine

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder caused by an immune response to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. When someone with celiac disease eats gluten, the immune system mistakenly causes chronic inflammation in the small intestine. Over time, this can damage the small intestine, prevent the absorption of nutrients and cause diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and anemia, among many other symptoms.

Tissue-resident lymphocytes are immune cells that help maintain and protect our tissues at barrier sites, like the lining of the intestine. In the video above, published in this week’s edition of Cell.

Video by Tim Brown