Gluten-free diet exposure prohibits pathobiont expansion and gluten sensitive enteropathy in B cell deficient mice

In humans, celiac disease (CeD) is a T-cell-driven gluten-sensitive enteropathy (GSE) localized to the small bowel (duodenum). The presence of antibodies specific for gluten- and self-antigens are commonly used diagnostic biomarkers of CeD and are considered to play a role in GSE pathogenesis. Previously, we have described an apparent T-cell-mediated GSE in CD19-/- mice, which develop weak and abnormal B cell responses. Here, we expand on this observation and use a mouse model of complete B cell deficiency (JH-/- mice), to show that absence of a humoral immune response also promotes development of a GSE. Furthermore, 16S analysis of microbial communities in the small intestine (SI) demonstrates that a gluten-free diet (GFD) suppresses the expansion of anaerobic bacteria in the SI and colonization of the SI by a specific pathobiont. Finally, we also observe that SI enteropathy in mice fed a gluten-rich diet (GRD) is positively correlated with the abundance of several microbial peptidase ...