Mast cell degranulation after a single dose of gliadin in the jejunum of patients with coeliac disease.
The exact pathomechanism of jejunal damage caused by gliadin in coeliac disease has not been clarified. 0.3 g of gluten per kg bodyweight was administered to 14 children affected by coeliac disease, being on gluten-free diet, five hours before jejunal biopsy. There was no change in the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes and eosinophils while cellular infiltration of the lamina propria exhibited a marked increase and the number of mast-cells per tissue unit significantly decreased as compared with controls. It is concluded that mast-cells may play an important role in the mechanism of gluten induced jejunal damage.
D000293:Adolescent; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D002452:Cell Count; D002648:Child; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000187:drug effects; D005903:Gliadin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007583:Jejunum / Q000187:drug effects*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*
D010940:Plant Proteins; D005903:Gliadin