title: Lectin staining shows no evidence of involvement of glycocalyx/mucous layer carbohydrate structures in development of celiac disease.
abstract: The presence of unique carbohydrate structures in the glycocalyx/mucous layer of the intestine may be involved in a susceptibility to celiac disease (CD) by serving as attachment sites for bacteria. This host-microbiota interaction may influence the development of CD and possibly other diseases with autoimmune components. We examined duodenal biopsies from a total of 30 children, of which 10 had both celiac disease (CD) and type 1 diabetes (T1D); 10 had CD alone; and 10 were suspected of having gastrointestinal disease, but had normal duodenal histology (non-CD controls). Patients with both CD and T1D were examined before and after remission following a gluten-free diet. We performed lectin histochemistry using peanut agglutinin (PNA) and Ulex europaeus agglutinin (UEA) staining for Gal-β(1,3)-GalNAc and Fucα1-2Gal-R, respectively, of the glycocalyx/mucous layer. The staining was scored based on dissemination of stained structures on a scale from 0 to 3. Evaluation of the scores revealed no difference between biopsies obtained before and after remission in the group of children with both CD and T1D. A comparison of this pre-remission group with the children who had CD alone or the non-CD controls also showed no significant differences. Based on our material, we found no indication that the presence of Gal-β(1,3)-GalNAc or Fucα1-2Gal-R is involved in the susceptibility to CD, or that the disease process affects the expression of these carbohydrates.
authors.affiliation: Hans Christian Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, Odense 5000, Denmark. htoft-hansen@health.sdu.dk.
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Toft-Hansen
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biagini
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Husby
authors.forename: Søren T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Lillevang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001706:Biopsy; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D055050:Diet, Gluten-Free; D004386:Duodenum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D019276:Glycocalyx / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D064307:Microbiota; D037121:Plant Lectins; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D037121:Plant Lectins