Effect of two synthetic α-gliadin peptides on lymphocytes in celiac disease: Identification of a novel class of opioid receptors

• Published in: Neuropeptides (Edinburgh) Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 113 - 122
• Main Authors: Graf, Laszlo, Horvath, Karoly, Walcz, Erzsebet, Berzetei, Ilona, Burnier, John
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.02.1987; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Amino Acid Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; Celiac Disease - immunology; Cell Migration Inhibition; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Gliadin - immunology; Gliadin - metabolism; Humans; Infant; Leukocytes - immunology; Male; Medical sciences; Other diseases. Semiology; Peptide Fragments - immunology; Peptide Fragments - metabolism; Plant Proteins - immunology; Receptors, Opioid - metabolism; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Opiate receptor; Celiac disease; Synthetic product; Peptide fragment; Gliadin; Digestive diseases; Lymphocyte
• ISSN: 0143-4179; 1532-2785
• DOI: 10.1016/0143-4179(87)90050-3

Two synthetic peptides containing residues 43–47 and 43–49 of α-gliadin were tested for inhibition of leukocyte migration in 47 patients with celiac disease. In nineteen patients, all on a normal diet, leukocyte migration was inhibited by the peptides and naloxone blocked this effect. In twenty-eight patients (24 of whom were on strict gluten-free diet) leukocyte migration was not affected by the peptides. Our results suggest that α-gliadin-(43–49), Tyr-Pro-Gln-Pro-Gln-Pro-Phe, is closely related to the active fragment, or to one of the active fragments of α-gliadin, and that it interacts with receptors that are similar to but not identical with the known opiate receptors.