Celiac disease is a T cell–mediated disease induced by dietary gluten, a component of which is gliadin. 95% of individuals with celiac disease carry the HLA (human leukocyte antigen)-DQ2 locus.

During infections or as the result of permeability changes, gliadin enters the lamina propria, where it is deamidated by tissue transglutaminase, allowing interaction with HLA-DQ2 (or HLA-DQ8 ...

Gliadin is absorbed into the lamina propria and presented in conjunction with HLA-DQ2 or DQ8 cell-surface antigens by antigen-presenting cells, probably dendritic cells, to sensitized T cells ...

For example, the cysteine endoprotease EPB derived from barley is a glutamine-specific enzyme that rapidly hydrolyzes intact gliadin polypeptides ... The crucial role of the HLA in celiac disease ...

The intestinal T-cell response to a-gliadin in adult celiac disease is focused ... Most patients with celiac disease are HLA-DQ2(+), with the remaining few expressing HLA-DQ8.