Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of an enzymatic method for treating flour, semolina and protein extracts derived from cereals known to stimulate a pathological immune response in patients affected by Celiac Disease (CD). Said treatment drastically reduces or completely eliminates the toxicity of gluten or similar products derived from other cereals. The method uses the catalytic activity of microbial transglutaminase and, in particular, its ability to bind proteins in cereal flour or semolina to an alkylated (C1-C4) derivative of lysine. After the treatment said proteins extracted from flour show a substantially lowered immuno-stimulatory activity in celiac patients T lymphocytes.

Abstract: The method allows to obtain gluten detoxified flours suitable for the preparation of bakery products and pasta made from wheat. With the use of the method gluten proteins undergo structural changes that do not activate in patients suffering from celiac disease, the cascade of inflammatory cytokines. Such structural changes, in addition, do not affect the technical properties of the flours that form the dough, therefore allowing the preparation of detoxified products, similar in taste and appearance to those commonly used in Mediterranean diet and which are intended not only for the people who suffer from intolerance to gluten, but for the whole population. The widespread use of such detoxified products in large part of the population has the purpose, in a totally innovative way, to provoke the reduction of gluten's effects in people's health and therefore to the decrease in the incidence of celiac disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of an enzymatic method for treating flour, semolina and protein extracts derived from cereals known to stimulate a pathological immune response in patients affected by Celiac Disease (CD). Said treatment drastically reduces or completely eliminates the toxicity of gluten or similar products derived from other cereals. The method uses the catalytic activity of microbial transglutaminase and, in particular, its ability to bind proteins in cereal flour or semolina to an alkylated (C1-C4) derivative of lysine. After the treatment said proteins extracted from flour show a substantially lowered immuno-stimulatory activity in celiac patients T lymphocytes.