Changing jejunal gamma delta T cell receptor (TCR)-bearing intraepithelial lymphocyte density in coeliac disease.
The function of jejunal intraepithelial gamma delta+ T cells is obscure, but they are commonly implicated as playing a role in inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. In coeliac disease (CoD), there are controversial reports as to gluten dependency of these cells. We have now studied the small bowel mucosal intraepithelial T cell densities, and the ratios of gamma delta+ to CD3+ T cells and gamma delta+ to alpha beta+ T cells during early disease development and on a gluten-free diet. Nine children initially excluded for CoD were followed up and rebiopsy after 0.8-4.5 years showed mucosal deterioration. Further, 21 biopsy specimens from newly diagnosed CoD patients were studied, together with 20 specimens taken from children on a gluten-free diet. During CoD development the density of gamma delta+ and alpha beta+ T cells as well as the ratios of gamma delta+ to CD3+ T cells and gamma delta+ to alpha beta+ T cells increased. In the latent stage of CoD when the small bowel mucosal architecture was still normal, two children had clearly normal densities of gamma delta+ (< 2.5 cells/100 epithelial cells) and alpha beta+ (< 25.0 cells/100 epithelial cells) T cells, and low ratios as well. In patients with newly diagnosed CoD the densities decreased significantly on a long-term gluten-free diet. We conclude that the density of intraepithelial gamma delta+ T cells as well as alphabeta+ T cells in CoD is gluten-dependent. CoD can develop in a child ingesting normal amounts of gluten and having normal jejunal mucosal morphology on biopsy and a normal density of gamma delta+ T cells.
Iltanen
S
S
Institute of Medical Technology, University of Tampere, Finland.
Holm
K
K
Ashorn
M
M
Ruuska
T
T
Laippala
P
P
Mäki
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005983:Glutens / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007583:Jejunum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000032:analysis*; D012155:Reticulin / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D001323:Autoantibodies; D017252:CD3 Complex; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D012155:Reticulin; D005983:Glutens