Intestinal-mucosa anti-transglutaminase antibody assays to test for genetic gluten intolerance

• Published in: Cellular & molecular immunology Vol. 11; no. 6; pp. 617 - 620
• Main Authors: Quaglia, Sara, De Leo, Luigina, Ziberna, Fabiana, Vatta, Serena, Villanacci, Vincenzo, Granzotto, Marilena, Petix, Vincenzo, Martelossi, Stefano, Di Leo, Grazia, Torelli, Lucio, Not, Tarcisio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.11.2014; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Antibodies; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Celiac Disease - diagnosis; Celiac Disease - diet therapy; Cell Surface Display Techniques; Child; Diet, Gluten-Free; Disease Progression; Early Diagnosis; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gluten; HLA-DQ Antigens - metabolism; Humans; Immunoassay; Immunoglobulin A - metabolism; Immunology; Intestinal Mucosa - metabolism; Intestinal Mucosa - pathology; Intolerance; Male; Medical Microbiology; Microbiology; Prospective Studies; Short Communication; Transglutaminases - immunology; Vaccine
• ISSN: 1672-7681; 2042-0226; 2042-0226
• DOI: 10.1038/cmi.2014.32

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune enteropathy characterized by gluten-triggered intestinal mucosa lesions in genetically susceptible individuals carrying the HLA DQ2 or DQ8. CD diagnosis is based on the concentration of IgA serum anti-transglutaminase (anti-tTG) antibodies together with mucosal damage at intestinal biopsy. However, it is now known that in subjects with genetic gluten intolerance, gastrointestinal and extra-intestinal symptoms may be present even when both mucosal morphology and serum anti-tTGs are normal. In this context, the anti-tTG in the intestinal mucosal seem to be the specific CD immunological marker that is detectable before the development of intestinal atrophy and the appearance of serum anti-tTG. This prospective study investigates the presence of intestinal anti-tTG antibodies in patients with differing clinical spectrums of genetic gluten intolerance by using two immunoassays: double immunofluorescence test for anti-tTG on the intestinal mucosa and flow cytometry assay to measure acid-eluted intestinal anti-tTG.