In cae any of you are interested this is very recent....
Authors
Cordain L. Toohey L. Smith MJ. Hickey MS.
Institution
Department of Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University,
Fort
Collins 80523, USA. [log in to unmask]
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).

ISSN
0007-1145

Publication Type
Journal Article. Review. Review, Tutorial.