IgA1, IgA2 or secretory piece containing antigliadin antibodies in the sera of coeliac patients.
A study was made of the gliadin antibodies containing secretory piece (SP) found in 73 sera samples obtained from 38 children with coeliac disease (CD); simultaneously an intestinal biopsy was carried out. In 32 cases the mucosa was flat and the remaining 41, following a gluten-free diet, had a normal intestinal histology. Thirty chronic non-coeliac gastrointestinal patients and 22 normal children were used for a control. An enzymoimmunoassay technique with monoclonal IgA1 and IgA2, and SP polyclonal antibodies was used. The antigliadin antibodies containing SP in serum were above normal limits in 24/32 (75%) active CD patients, but also in 22/41 (54%) patients with normal biopsy and in 20/30 (66%) chronic non-coeliac gastrointestinal patients. There was a multivariant correlation (p less than 0.002) among antigliadin, ovoalbumin and lactoglobulin antibodies containing SP. These results are probably due to non-specific intestinal damage. Nevertheless, antigliadin antibodies containing SP in the sera of gluten-free CD cases lasted longer than antiovoalbumin and antilactoglobulin antibodies. The IgA1 antigliadin antibodies were increased in 19/30 (64%) of active CD patients and 0/8 of inactive CD patients (p less than 0.0005). Nevertheless IgA2 antibodies were increased in only 2/30 (7%) of active CD patients (p less than 0.05). According to this study the IgA antigliadin antibodies in serum are the result of a systemic response, although another interpretation could be that gliadin mainly stimulates IgA1 subclass antibodies in the gut.
Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, Valladolid, Spain.
A
A
Blanco
E
E
Arranz
M
M
Alonso
E
E
Sánchez Villares
D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001284:Atrophy; D001706:Biopsy; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005903:Gliadin / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D007223:Infant; D007422:Intestines / Q000473:pathology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D010940:Plant Proteins; D005903:Gliadin