Coeliac disease is known to run in families. If you have a close relative with coeliac disease such as a parent or sibling, there is a 1 in 10 chance that you will develop the condition. Identical twins, who share all the same genes, are much more likely to both develop the condition compared to non-identical twins, who only share 50% of their genes.
Late in 2009 the group began collecting samples of saliva from members of Coeliac UK and having received over 5000 samples they began their study looking at the possible genetic component of celiac disease.
During the analysis of the DNA samples the research team was able to identify seven previously unknown risk regions – 6 of which control immune responses and showed a correlation to other autoimmune diseases such as Type 1 Diabetes.
The full study appears in the newest edition of Nature Genetics. For more information on the research team or Professor David van Heel visit his staff profile on the Blizard Institute of Cell and Molecular Science site.
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