Zonulin

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Zonulin is a protein that participates in tight junctions between cells of the wall of the digestive tract. Initially discovered in 2000 as the target of zonula occludens toxin, secreted by cholera pathogen Vibrio cholerae,^[1] it has been implicated in the pathogenesis of coeliac disease^[2] and diabetes mellitus type 1.^[3] It is being studied as a target for vaccine adjuvants.^[4]

[edit] References

1. ^ Wang W, Uzzau S, Goldblum SE, Fasano A. Human zonulin, a potential modulator of intestinal tight junctions. J Cell Sci 2000;113 Pt 24:4435-40. PMID 11082037.
2. ^ Thomas KE, Sapone A, Fasano A, Vogel SN. Gliadin stimulation of murine macrophage inflammatory gene expression and intestinal permeability are MyD88-dependent: role of the innate immune response in Celiac disease. J Immunol 2006;176:2512-21. PMID 16456012.
3. ^ Sapone A, de Magistris L, Pietzak M, Clemente MG, Tripathi A, Cucca F, Lampis R, Kryszak D, Carteni M, Generoso M, Iafusco D, Prisco F, Laghi F, Riegler G, Carratu R, Counts D, Fasano A. Zonulin upregulation is associated with increased gut permeability in subjects with type 1 diabetes and their relatives. Diabetes 2006;55:1443-9. PMID 16644703.
4. ^ De Magistris MT. Zonula occludens toxin as a new promising adjuvant for mucosal vaccines. Vaccine 2006;24 Suppl 2:S2-60-1. PMID 16823929.