title: In vitro activities of A-gliadin-related synthetic peptides: damaging effect on the atrophic coeliac mucosa and activation of mucosal immune response in the treated coeliac mucosa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gliadin amino acid sequence(s) responsible for toxicity in susceptible individuals have not been fully elucidated. Previous in vitro studies have suggested the presence of active sequences in the NH(2)-terminal part of the A-gliadin molecule. In this paper the in vitro activity of A-gliadin synthetic peptides 31-55, 31-43, and 44-55 has been investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Organ culture of jejunal mucosa from untreated and treated coeliac patients was used. In the first system enterocyte height was used as a measure of peptide toxicity; in the second system evidence of activated mucosal cell-mediated immune response was sought.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peptides 31-55 and 31-43 were active on untreated coeliac mucosa at a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml and peptide 44-55 only at a concentration of 3 mg/ml. In in vitro-cultured treated coeliac mucosa peptides 31-55 and 31-43 at 1 mg/ml and peptide 44-55 at 3 mg/ml were able to induce enhanced epithelial expression of HLA-DR and 4F2 molecules and the appearance of CD25 positive cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that 31-43 and 44-55 A-gliadin peptides are both active, even if to different extents. In vitro systems remain essential tools to screen material to be subsequently tested in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Pediatrics, University Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maiuri
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Troncone
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coletta
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Picarelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Vincenzi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pavone
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Auricchio
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D027261:Fusion Regulatory Protein-1; D005903:Gliadin / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; D027261:Fusion Regulatory Protein-1; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D005903:Gliadin