title: Natural antibiotic expression in celiac disease--correlation with villous atrophy and response to a gluten-free diet.
abstract: As infection influences the pathogenesis and presentation of celiac disease, we investigated the expression of natural antibiotics in this condition. Twenty-three adults were prospectively studied: 10 controls and 13 subjects with untreated celiac disease. Distal duodenal biopsies were taken at baseline and after 6 months of a gluten-free diet and assessed for the expression of natural antibiotics. Epithelial human beta-defensin 1 in subjects with celiac disease had a median of 0.02 unit at baseline, compared with 0.34 unit in controls (P < 0.001). It correlated negatively with the degree of villous atrophy (r = -0.64, P = 0.019) and rose to 0.04 unit on the gluten-free diet (P = 0.035 vs. baseline, P < 0.001 vs. controls). The expression of other antibiotics was unchanged. The expression of epithelial natural antibiotics is limited in celiac disease.
authors.affiliation: Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock, Scotland, United Kingdom. ali.taha1@btinternet.com
authors.forename: Ali S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Taha
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Faccenda
authors.forename: Wilson J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Angerson
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balsitis
authors.forename: Rodney W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D001284:Atrophy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted; D005260:Female; D005983:Glutens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008871:Microvilli / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005983:Glutens