Intraepithelial lymphocytes in celiac disease: license to kill revealed.
Infiltration of lymphocytes in the small intestinal epithelium is a hallmark of active celiac disease. In this issue of Immunity, two papers uncover mechanisms controlling the cytolytic potential of these cells and provide evidence that lymphocyte killing of enterocytes is an important part of the celiac disease pathogenesis.
Sollid
Ludvig M
LM
Institute of Immunology, Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo, N-0027, Norway.
D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D020895:Enterocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*