3 ms·

I have hashimoto's thyroiditis autoimmune condition and I read somewhere that one possible cause could be very subtle gluten allergy. So antibodies are produced

by smnplk 9y ago

I have hashimoto's thyroiditis autoimmune condition and I read somewhere that one possible cause could be very subtle gluten allergy. So antibodies are produced to attack a specific gluten protein, but this protein is similar in molecular structure as the protein thyroid is made of, thyroglobulin, so at the same time thyroid is attacked. Is this what molecular mimicry is ? I know next to nothing about human microbiology, feel free to educate me. I really should pick up a book on it if I want to experiment with my health, any suggestions where to start ?

nicwilson 9y ago
> Is this what molecular mimicry is ? Yes, but it usually works the other way around, i.e. the immune system should not recognise the "specific gluten protein" because it looks like self. After all the microbe(?) that produces it is trying to survive by looking like its host, it isn't trying to induce thyroiditis in its host. Another common case is mimicry of the A, B blood antigens and the Rhesus factor. Patients that are AB+ treat A,B and Rhesus factor as self and so can accept blood from any donor (i.e. AB+ is the universal recipient). In contrast, O- patients who do not treat A,B and Rhesus factor as self and due to mimicry will likely treat them as foreign bad (as opposed to foreign neutral), so if they receive a transfusion from any other blood type the immune system will attack the transfusion. Since O- lacks A,B and Rhesus it is the universal donor. > any suggestions where to start? The topics fall under microbiology / immunology, so Ugrad textbooks, Wikipedia etc.
mirimir 9y ago
Yes, that could be molecular mimicry. I hadn't heard of the thyroglobulin gluten similarity. But Hashimoto's thyroiditis is associated with celiac disease, which is clearly gluten related. As the immune system matures in late fetal development, there's a stage when all cells that can target self antigens get killed. However, some tissues are isolated from the immune system, and so there are antigens there that don't get on the "self list". The thyroid is one of them. Everything is OK until the thyroid gets damaged, infected or whatever. Then the immune system can see it, and may develop cell and antibody mediated responses. Like all proteins in food, gluten is normally digested, and never makes it out of the gut intact. Only the component amino acids are transported to the bloodstream. However, in celiac disease, where the gut lining is damaged, I can imagine that some gluten gets across intact. Also many other proteins and complex carbohydrates. Then the immune system could respond to all that stuff. And some of it could share epitope with thyroid components. So if there is an association between gluten and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, it's hard to say whether gluten shares epitopes with thyroid stuff, or whether it's just damaging the gut.
amluto 9y ago
I have no useful references, but I have a friend with Hashimoto’s who seems to be controlling it by avoiding gluten, brassica, and a few other foods, without any meds. IIRC the set of foods is gluten + known/suspected goitrogens. Definitely do your homework before trusting me on this.
murrayb 9y ago
I have the same condition and have improved it significantly by removing gluten from my diet and adding fibre and natural probiotics from fermented foods. I am also not a biologist of any sort. I get regular blood tests done (yearly) to monitor, read and experiment. Not cured but levels generally heading in a better direction.

by smnplk 9y ago

nicwilson 9y ago

> Is this what molecular mimicry is ? Yes, but it usually works the other way around, i.e. the immune system should not recognise the "specific gluten protein" because it looks like self. After all the microbe(?) that produces it is trying to survive by looking like its host, it isn't trying to induce thyroiditis in its host. Another common case is mimicry of the A, B blood antigens and the Rhesus factor. Patients that are AB+ treat A,B and Rhesus factor as self and so can accept blood from any donor (i.e. AB+ is the universal recipient). In contrast, O- patients who do not treat A,B and Rhesus factor as self and due to mimicry will likely treat them as foreign bad (as opposed to foreign neutral), so if they receive a transfusion from any other blood type the immune system will attack the transfusion. Since O- lacks A,B and Rhesus it is the universal donor. > any suggestions where to start? The topics fall under microbiology / immunology, so Ugrad textbooks, Wikipedia etc.

mirimir 9y ago

Yes, that could be molecular mimicry. I hadn't heard of the thyroglobulin gluten similarity. But Hashimoto's thyroiditis is associated with celiac disease, which is clearly gluten related. As the immune system matures in late fetal development, there's a stage when all cells that can target self antigens get killed. However, some tissues are isolated from the immune system, and so there are antigens there that don't get on the "self list". The thyroid is one of them. Everything is OK until the thyroid gets damaged, infected or whatever. Then the immune system can see it, and may develop cell and antibody mediated responses. Like all proteins in food, gluten is normally digested, and never makes it out of the gut intact. Only the component amino acids are transported to the bloodstream. However, in celiac disease, where the gut lining is damaged, I can imagine that some gluten gets across intact. Also many other proteins and complex carbohydrates. Then the immune system could respond to all that stuff. And some of it could share epitope with thyroid components. So if there is an association between gluten and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, it's hard to say whether gluten shares epitopes with thyroid stuff, or whether it's just damaging the gut.

amluto 9y ago

I have no useful references, but I have a friend with Hashimoto’s who seems to be controlling it by avoiding gluten, brassica, and a few other foods, without any meds. IIRC the set of foods is gluten + known/suspected goitrogens. Definitely do your homework before trusting me on this.

murrayb 9y ago

I have the same condition and have improved it significantly by removing gluten from my diet and adding fibre and natural probiotics from fermented foods. I am also not a biologist of any sort. I get regular blood tests done (yearly) to monitor, read and experiment. Not cured but levels generally heading in a better direction.