Related Experiment Videos
IgA immune response patterns to gliadin in serum
F Mascart-Lemone1, S Cadranel, J Van den Broeck
1Department of Immunology, Saint-Pierre Hospital, Free University of Brussels, Belgium.
International Archives of Allergy and Applied Immunology
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Children with celiac disease (CD) have higher levels of polymeric anti-gliadin IgA (pIgA). This suggests pIgA may indicate chronic gluten exposure in CD patients with intestinal damage.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Gastroenterology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten ingestion.
- Anti-gliadin (GL) IgA antibodies are biomarkers for CD, but their molecular characteristics require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the incidence, titer, and molecular size of anti-gliadin IgA in children with CD, other malabsorption disorders, and healthy controls.
- To investigate the relationship between anti-GL IgA molecular forms and disease activity or gluten exposure.
Main Methods:
- Solid-phase radioimmunoassay was used to measure anti-GL IgA titers.
- Sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation analyzed the molecular size of anti-GL IgA.
- Patient cohorts included children with CD (n=66), other malabsorption disorders (n=103), and hospitalized controls (n=64).
Main Results:
- Untreated CD patients exhibited significantly higher median anti-GL IgA titers compared to controls.
- A higher proportion of anti-GL IgA was polymeric (pIgA) in acute CD (57%) versus other malabsorption disorders (17%).
- Serum pIgA levels decreased more rapidly than monomeric IgA (mIgA) after initiating a gluten-free diet and increased during gluten challenge.
Conclusions:
- The presence of serum polymeric anti-GL IgA (pIgA) is associated with chronic gluten exposure in celiac disease patients with intestinal mucosal atrophy.
- These findings suggest that serum pIgA may originate from intestinal mucosal synthesis and spillover into circulation, serving as a potential indicator of active CD.