Modulation of immune function by dietary lectins in rheumatoid arthritis.

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Institution

Department of Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Fort

80523, USA.

Title

Modulation of immune function by dietary lectins in rheumatoid arthritis.

[Review] [114 refs]

Source

British Journal of Nutrition. 83(3):207-17, 2000 Mar.

Abstract

Despite the almost universal clinical observation that inflammation of the

gut is frequently associated with inflammation of the joints and vice

versa, the nature of this relationship remains elusive. In the present

review, we provide evidence for how the interaction of dietary lectins with

enterocytes and lymphocytes may facilitate the translocation of both

dietary and gut-derived pathogenic antigens to peripheral tissues, which in

turn causes persistent peripheral antigenic stimulation. In genetically

susceptible individuals, this antigenic stimulation may ultimately result

in the expression of overt rheumatoid arthritis (RA) via molecular mimicry,

a process whereby foreign peptides, similar in structure to endogenous

peptides, may cause antibodies or T-lymphocytes to cross-react with both

foreign and endogenous peptides and thereby break immunological tolerance.

By eliminating dietary elements, particularly lectins, which adversely

influence both enterocyte and lymphocyte structure and function, it is

proposed that the peripheral antigenic stimulus (both pathogenic and

dietary) will be reduced and thereby result in a diminution of disease

symptoms in certain patients with RA. [References: 114]

Registry Numbers

0 (Antigens). 0 (Lectins).