Overview
The Cytoskeletal Proteins IgA marker measures immune reactivity to certain structural proteins that are part of the intestinal lining. These cytoskeletal proteins—most notably vinculin, talin, and alpha-actinin—help maintain the integrity of the gut's epithelial cells and tight junctions. These junctions are critical in regulating what passes from the inside of the gut into the bloodstream. When functioning properly, they help maintain a healthy, selective barrier that keeps out unwanted substances like toxins, bacteria, and partially digested food particles.
This test specifically measures Immunoglobulin A (IgA), an antibody type predominantly found in mucosal surfaces such as the gut. Elevated levels of IgA against cytoskeletal proteins can indicate that the immune system is responding to damage or stress at the intestinal lining, which may be the result of bacterial overgrowth, chronic inflammation, or previous gastrointestinal infections.
Why it’s tested
In conditions like Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) or post-infectious Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), certain pathogens—such as Campylobacter jejuni, E. coli, and Salmonella—can produce toxins that damage the epithelial cells lining the gut. One of the well-documented toxins involved in this process is the cytolethal distending toxin (Cdt), which can trigger an autoimmune-like immune response. When epithelial cells are injured, their cytoskeletal proteins are exposed to the immune system in abnormal ways. This may cause the immune system to treat those internal proteins as foreign, generating antibodies like IgA against them.
The presence of these antibodies reflects mucosal immune activation and may indicate a loss of immune tolerance to structural components of the gut lining. In other words, the immune system starts attacking the body's own tissue at the site of damage—an early sign of a more complex immune or inflammatory process that may not be limited to the digestive system.
Clinical relevance of elevated IgA
Elevated Cytoskeletal Proteins IgA levels suggest there may be ongoing damage or dysfunction in the intestinal barrier. This is important for several reasons:
Gut permeability (leaky gut): The integrity of the intestinal lining may be compromised, allowing bacteria, toxins, and food antigens to enter the bloodstream. This can lead to widespread inflammation and symptoms that go beyond the gut, such as joint pain, fatigue, or brain fog.
Post-infectious IBS and SIBO: Elevated antibodies to cytoskeletal proteins are commonly found in individuals with diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D), especially after a gastrointestinal infection. In these cases, the immune response is driven by the aftermath of infection and can lead to long-term changes in gut motility and sensitivity.
Autoimmune risk: Persistent immune responses against self-proteins in the gut may contribute to the development of autoimmune conditions over time. The immune system's targeting of these proteins could spread to other tissues, particularly in individuals with genetic or environmental predispositions.
Barrier system cross-reactivity: Damage to the intestinal barrier may also affect other body systems that rely on similar barrier mechanisms, such as the blood-brain barrier or the lung epithelium. Cross-reactivity to structural proteins in multiple tissues is a growing area of research in immune-mediated diseases.
What this means for your health
If your Cytoskeletal Proteins IgA level is elevated, it suggests your immune system is reacting to structural proteins in your gut lining, likely in response to damage or chronic irritation. While this marker alone does not confirm a diagnosis, it provides useful insight when viewed in the context of other markers on the Array 22 panel—such as bacterial toxin antibodies (e.g., CdtB or LPS)—as well as your symptoms, history of infections, and digestive complaints.
Healthcare practitioners may use this information to support a diagnosis of post-infectious IBS, SIBO, or to guide personalized treatment strategies aimed at reducing immune activation, repairing the intestinal lining, and restoring a healthy microbial balance. This often includes dietary modifications, targeted antimicrobial therapy, probiotics, gut-healing nutrients like glutamine and zinc carnosine, and lifestyle changes to reduce systemic inflammation.
Summary
Cytoskeletal Proteins IgA is a powerful marker for identifying mucosal immune reactions in the gut. When elevated, it signals that your immune system may be targeting structural elements of the intestinal lining due to prior or ongoing damage—often related to SIBO, post-infectious IBS, or other inflammatory gut conditions. Addressing this immune reactivity early through targeted interventions can help support gut repair, prevent progression to broader immune dysregulation, and alleviate both digestive and systemic symptoms.
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If Cytoskeletal Proteins IgA is below the reference range or simply reported as within range by Cyrex Laboratories, it generally means that:
The immune system is not currently producing elevated levels of IgA antibodies against cytoskeletal proteins in the gut lining. This suggests that:
There may be no significant structural damage to intestinal epithelial cells.
There is likely no ongoing immune attack on gut barrier proteins like vinculin, talin, or alpha-actinin.
The gut mucosa is not reacting abnormally to prior infections or bacterial toxins at the time of testing.
A within-range result implies that the immune system is appropriately tolerating the body's own intestinal proteins, rather than mistakenly treating them as foreign threats. This is typically interpreted as a positive finding, particularly in the context of gut health and autoimmune risk.
Even if results are within range, they should be interpreted with clinical context:
A patient who had a past infection or gut damage may no longer have elevated IgA if the immune response has subsided or resolved.
In some cases, immunosuppressive medications, nutrient deficiencies (like IgA deficiency), or chronic immune exhaustion may blunt antibody responses—even in the presence of active tissue injury. This is less common but clinically relevant.
If you're asymptomatic or improving, a normal result supports the idea that the gut barrier is stable.
If you still have significant digestive symptoms (bloating, diarrhea, post-infectious IBS), your provider may look at other markers on Array 22, such as:
Anti-CdtB (cytolethal distending toxin B)
LPS IgG/IgA/IgM (lipopolysaccharide antibodies)
These can help determine if bacterial toxin exposure or other immune activity is present despite a normal cytoskeletal protein IgA level.
A within-range or low Cytoskeletal Proteins IgA result typically suggests that:
The intestinal mucosal barrier is not under active immune attack.
There is no current antibody response targeting gut structural proteins.
This is considered a normal and favorable finding, especially when consistent with a lack of significant symptoms or when supported by other normal immune markers.
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I have been using Healthmatters.io since 2021. I travel all over the world and use different doctors and health facilities. This site has allowed me to consolidate all my various test results over 14 years in one place. And every doctor that I show this to has been impressed. Because with any health professional I talk to, I can pull up historical results in seconds. It is invaluable. Even going back to the same doctor, they usually do not have the historical results from their facility in a graph format. That has been very helpful.
Karin
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What fantastic service and great, easy-to-follow layouts! I love your website; it makes it so helpful to see patterns in my health data. It's truly a pleasure to use. I only wish the NHS was as organized and quick as Healthmatters.io. You've set a new standard for health tracking!
Paul
Healthmatters Pro Member since 2024
As a PRO member and medical practitioner, Healthmatters.io has been an invaluable tool for tracking my clients' data. The layout is intuitive, making it easy to monitor trends and spot patterns over time. The ability to customize reports and charts helps me present information clearly to my clients, improving communication and outcomes. It's streamlined my workflow, saving me time and providing insights at a glance. Highly recommended for any practitioner looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly solution to track patient labs!
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