title: CD69 expression on alpha-gliadin-specific T cells in coeliac disease.
abstract: Coeliac disease (CD) is a T-cell mediated immunological disease of the small intestine which is triggered in susceptible individuals by ingestion of gluten. The pathogenic mechanism of coeliac disease, and the role that alpha-gliadin specific T cells play in mucosal lesions and their involvement in peripheral blood is not yet explained at all. Previous studies have reported proliferative response to alpha-gliadin measured with the classic assay of 3HTdR incorporation. We analysed the activation antigen CD69 on T cells from CD patients and normal individuals following stimulation with alpha-gliadin and different antigens (tetanus toxoid, peptides unrelated to gliadin and PHA). CD69 coexpression with T cell CD3+ and proliferation marker Ki67 was evaluated with time. CD69 coexpression with T cell CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ was also evaluated. It was found that peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of coeliac patients increased their percentage of CD69 positive T cells when stimulated with alpha-gliadin, in comparison with cells from controls. Significant T cell activation was found only in subjects not treated with the gluten free diet; a positive response was found also in two coeliac patients with selective IgA deficiency, anti-endomisium negative, without circulating IgA anti alpha-gliadin or anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies. The CD69 expression after stimulation was compared with the standard method of 3HTdR incorporation. Our data show that CD69 expression is useful to asses a specific T cell response to alpha-gliadin in coeliac disease. in a very short time. Moreover, the method allows to investigate T cell response at the lymphocyte subsets level, which represents a useful tool in the diagnosis of coeliac disease.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio Analisi, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy. presani@burlo.trieste.it
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perticarari
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prodan
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fragonas
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Canova
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Presani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000378:metabolism*; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005903:Gliadin / Q000276:immunology*; D005983:Glutens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008875:Middle Aged; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D005903:Gliadin; D005983:Glutens; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D013936:Thymidine; D000099192:CD69 Antigens