Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026
Identification of Peptides of Small Extracellular Vesicles from Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages
Published on: June 30, 2023
Exosomes in celiac disease: From pathogenesis to diagnostic and therapeutic potential
Masoud Lahouty1, Golnaz Mobayen1, Mahsa Ghasemian2
1Pediatric Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Insights
Celiac disease involves gut exosomes that spread inflammation by presenting gluten peptides to T cells. These exosomes also carry microRNAs that disrupt gut barrier function and cause systemic symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Celiac disease (CD) is a gluten-induced enteropathy with a breakdown of mucosal tolerance.
- Intercellular communication across the epithelial-lamina propria barrier in CD is poorly understood.
- Exosomes are implicated as key mediators in this autoinflammatory cascade.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the dual role of exosomes in celiac disease pathogenesis.
- To explore exosomes as potential diagnostic tools (liquid biopsies) in CD.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on exosome function in celiac disease.
- Analysis of exosome-mediated intercellular communication mechanisms.
- Discussion of exosomal microRNA signatures and their systemic effects.
Main Results:
- Gut-derived exosomes present deamidated gliadin peptides and HLA-DQ complexes to CD4+ T cells, independent of synaptic interactions.
- Exosomal microRNAs disrupt tight junction integrity, promoting inflammation.
- Exosomes contribute to systemic extra-intestinal symptoms in celiac disease.
Conclusions:
- Exosomes act as pathogenic vectors in celiac disease by facilitating immune cell priming and barrier disruption.
- Exosomes represent promising real-time liquid biopsies for diagnosing and monitoring celiac disease.
Abstract:
Celiac disease (CD) is a prototypical example of gluten-induced enteropathy characterized by a strong breakdown of mucosal tolerance. However, the spatial processes underlying intercellular communication across the epithelial-lamina propria barrier remain poorly known. Exosomes have evolved to be useful orchestrators of this autoinflammatory cascade. In contrast to their passive metabolic by-product role, gut-derived exosomes functionally mediate the non-canonical presentation of deamidated gliadin peptides and disease-associated HLA-DQ complexes, which directly prime pathogenic CD4+ T cells independently of conventional cellular synaptic interaction. At the same time, dysregulated exosomal microRNA (miRNA) signatures undermine tight junction integrity and promote pro-inflammatory signaling loops systemically, providing a probable mechanistic link to extra-intestinal symptoms. In this review, the dual role of exosomes as pathogenic propagation vectors and real-time liquid biopsies in CD will be critically discussed.
