Zonulin

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", [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.] it has been implicated in the pathogenesis of coeliac disease [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.] and diabetes mellitus type 1. [Sapone A, de Magistris L, Pietzak M, Clemente MG, Tripathi A, Cucca F, Lampis R, Kryszak D, Carteni M, Generoed with increased gut permeability in subjects with type 1 diabetes and their relatives. "Diabetes" 2006;55:1443-9. PMID 16644703.] It is being studied as a target for vaccine adjuvants. [De Magistris MT. Zonula occludens toxin as a new promising adjuvant for mucosal vaccines. "Vaccine" 2006;24 Suppl 2:S2-60-1. PMID 16823929.] ALBA Therapeutics is developing a zonulin receptor antagonist, AT-1001, that is currently in phase 2 clinical trials.

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