Celiac disease is a human T cell mediated autoimmune-like disorder caused by exposure to dietary gluten in genetically predisposed individuals. This review will discuss how a CD4 T cell responses directed against an exogenous antigen can cause an autoreactive B-cell response and participate in the licensing of intraepithelial lymphocytes to kill intestinal epithelial cells. Furthermore, the review will examine the mechanisms by which intraepithelial cytotoxic T cells mediate tissue destruction in celiac disease.