Effect of Aspergillus Niger Prolyl Endoprotease (AN-PEP) Enzyme on the Effects of Gluten Ingestion in Patients With Coeliac Disease

Oral supplementation with enzymes that can cut gluten has been suggested as a potential treatment modality for coeliac disease. In the present study the investigators wish to determine if co-administration of such an enzyme, a prolyl endoprotease derived from the food grade organism Aspergillis niger (AN-PEP), is capable of detoxifying 8 grams of gluten in a commercial food product.

The objective of the study is to determine whether AN-PEP enzyme is effective in mitigating the effects of 8 g wheat protein ingestion in patients with celiac disease.

Fourteen patients with coeliac disease, 18-70 years old are recruited. During the first period, patients consume once daily a gluten-containing food product with the AN-PEP enzyme for 2 weeks. After a 2-week washout period (second period), patients enter the third period of this study, and are randomized to one of two groups and consume the same gluten-containing food product with AN-PEP or placebo.

Period 1: Patients are given a food product containing 8 g of wheat protein, to which AN-PEP is added, once daily for 14 d.

Period 2: Wash-out period of 14 d. During this period, patients will consume a gluten-free diet.

Period 3: Patients who are negative for coeliac disease symptoms during the 1st period will be randomized across two groups. Both groups receive a food product containing 8 g of wheat protein once daily for 14 d. One group receives additional AN-PEP with the gluten meal whereas the other group receives the placebo.

Patients will visit the outpatient clinic five times; one visit before the start of the study, a visit during and at the end of the first period, and a visit during and at the end of the third period. During three of the visits, spike-biopsies are taken from the duodenum by oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy. Blood samples are taken during all of the five visits. Patients will also fill in a quality of life questionnaire at the start and the end of the first and third period.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Confirmed diagnosis of coeliac disease (Marsh III B/C) ; that means crypt hyperplasia and subtotal or total villous atrophy, while using a normal diet followed by normalisation and clinical improvement on a gluten-free diet;
* Detectable coeliac disease specific antibodies (EMA, tTGA) at time of diagnosis.
* A strict gluten free diet for at least 1 year and normalised villous architecture (Marsh 0/I);
* Male and female, 18-70 years old;
* No detectable anti-endomysium and low anti-tissue transglutaminase (\< 4 U/ml) prior to the start of the study;
* Patient is willing to undergo all protocol related assessments and visits (including up to 3 separate oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopies with multiple biopsies taken each time from the descending duodenum);
* Patient has read the information provided on the study and given written consent;
* Female participants at fertile age must use adequate contraception.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Use of any immunoregulatory drug within the last 6 months;
* Use of any anticoagulant drug;
* Clinically suspected bleeding tendency;
* Pregnancy or breast feeding;
* Presence of any concurrent active infection;
* IgA deficiency.