title: CD4⁺ T-cell proliferation responses to wheat polypeptide stimulation in children at different stages of type 1 diabetes autoimmunity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to study whether immune responses to wheat-based proteins are related to the development of type 1 diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed proliferative T-cell responses after in vitro gliadin, gluten, whole wheat, and tetanus toxoid stimulation with a carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) based T-cell proliferation assay in children at various phases of type 1 diabetes autoimmunity and in healthy autoantibody-negative control children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At an early stage of beta cell autoimmunity the strength and frequencies of positive proliferation responses to gliadin, gluten, and whole wheat did not differ between newly seroconverted children positive for one islet autoantibody and the controls. However, in prediabetic children with at least two islet autoantibodies and also in children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes positive T-cell responses to gliadin were significantly less frequent and the strength of gliadin responses was reduced when compared to the controls. No differences were seen in T-cell responses to wheat-based antigens when comparing children with long-lasting type 1 diabetes with healthy controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decreased in vitro T-cell responses to wheat-based antigens were observed in children with multiple islet autoantibodies and in those with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes, probably reflecting a generally aberrant immune response during the development of type 1 diabetes.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors: Susanna
authors: S
authors: Hamari
authors: Tiina
authors: T
authors: Kirveskoski
authors: Virpi
authors: V
authors: Glumoff
authors: Petri
authors: P
authors: Kulmala
authors: Olli
authors: O
authors: Simell
authors: Mikael
authors: M
authors: Knip
authors: Jorma
authors: J
authors: Ilonen
authors: Riitta
authors: R
authors: Veijola
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D005903:Gliadin / Q000276:immunology*; D005983:Glutens / Q000276:immunology*; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D006680:HLA Antigens; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; D005983:Glutens; D005903:Gliadin
keywords: T-cell; autoimmunity; environmental trigger; gluten; proliferation response; type 1 diabetes