title: Majority of gliadin-specific T-cell clones from celiac small intestinal mucosa produce interferon-gamma and interleukin-4.
abstract: An abnormal mucosal cell-mediated immune response plays a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of celiac disease. To characterize locally infiltrating T cells, gliadin-specific T-cell clones were isolated from two treated celiac patients. Mucosal biopsies were cultured in vitro for 24 hr with a peptic-tryptic digest (PT) of gliadin. T-cell clones (TCC) were then isolated by limiting dilution. The production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) was evaluated by ELISA in culture supernatants obtained after a short incubation with anti-CD3 and PMA, or with antigen. Twenty-two TCC were specific for gliadin and/or PT. All were CD3+, CD4+, CD8-, TCR alphabeta+. In one such clone the PT-specific response was inhibited by an anti-DQ, but not by an anti-DR antibody. Of the five gliadin-specific TCC examined, four produced IL-4 and high levels of IFN-gamma; the remaining one initially produced only IL-4, but subsequently also IFN-gamma. All clones obtained from the celiac mucosa, including the gliadin-specific ones, produced high levels of IFN-gamma, in most cases with IL-4. This cytokine profile could explain most of the immunological features of the celiac mucosa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Troncone
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gianfrani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazzarella
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guardiola
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Auricchio
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Berardinis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D002999:Clone Cells; D005260:Female; D005903:Gliadin / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D005903:Gliadin