title: Immunogenicity of two oat varieties, in relation to their safety for celiac patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Most of the recent studies suggest that oats are well tolerated by celiac disease (CD) patients. However, it is still possible that different oat cultivars may display different biological properties relevant for CD pathogenesis. We aimed to investigate biological and immunological properties of two oat varieties, Avena genziana and Avena potenza, in relation to their safety for CD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) were evaluated in CaCo-2 cells treated with peptic-tryptic (PT) digests from the two oats and from gliadin (PTG). With the same PT-digests, duodenal biopsies from 22 CD patients were treated in vitro for 24 h and density of CD25+ cells in lamina propria and of intraepithelial CD3+ T cells was measured, as well as crypt cell proliferation and epithelial expression of interleukin 15. Finally, interferon γ (IFN-γ) production was measured as evidence of gliadin-specific T-cell activation by PT-digests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In contrast to PTG, oats PT-digests were not able to induce significant increase in ERK phosphorylation and decrease in TEER in CaCo-2 cells. In the organ culture system, oats PT-digests, unlike PTG, did not induce significant increase in crypt enterocyte proliferation, increase in interleukin 15 expression or in lamina propria CD25+ cells. Nevertheless Avena potenza increased intraepithelial T-cell density, while Avena genziana-induced IFN-γ production in 3/8 CD intestinal T cell lines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data show that Avena genziana and Avena potenza do not display in vitro activities related to CD pathogenesis. Some T-cell reactivity could be below the threshold for clinical relevance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, European Laboratory for the Investigation of Food Induced Diseases-ELFID, University Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariantonia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maglio
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazzarella
authors.forename: Maria Vittoria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Barone
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gianfrani
authors.forename: Norberto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pogna
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gazza
authors.forename: Rosita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stefanile
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Camarca
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Colicchio
authors.forename: Merlin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nanayakkara
authors.forename: Erasmo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Miele
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iaquinto
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Giardullo
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maurano
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Troncone
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Auricchio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018554:Avena / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D001706:Biopsy; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017097:Electric Impedance; D020895:Enterocytes / Q000166:cytology; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D005903:Gliadin / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000378:metabolism; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010766:Phosphorylation; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017252:CD3 Complex; D019409:Interleukin-15; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D005903:Gliadin; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases