Expression of cyclin A in intestinal biopsies from children with celiac disease

The aim of this study was to determine the expression of cyclin A and describe its distribution in biopsy samples taken from children with suspected and confirmed celiac disease as well as in control samples. Investigated material consisted of 37 intestinal biopsies: 19 taken from patients with confirmed celiac disease, 9 from patients with its suspicion and 9 from healthy patients, who served as control. Immunohistochemical and immunogold methods were used to estimate cyclin A expression. In celiac disease samples morphological changes in epithelial cells, typical for disease, were shown. We observed weaker cyclin A expression, however there were also some cells with strong labeling in cytoplasm, near the nucleus. In control and suspected celiac disease groups cyclin A was present in the brush border, nucleus and whole cytoplasm, especially in proximity to the nucleus. In conclusion, these studies enabled us visualized pattern of distribution of cyclin A but let us also to presume that observed decrease of expression and its distribution might function as additional factor which could be taken under consideration to establish terminal diagnosis. We are aware of the fact that these are very first observations and that this subject needs to be further investigated with the use of additional methods and samples.