Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026
Isolation and Flow Cytometric Characterization of Murine Small Intestinal Lymphocytes
Published on: May 8, 2016
Flow cytometry of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes in celiac disease
1Clinical Development, Alba Therapeutics, 800 W. Baltimore St, Suite 400, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. fleon@albatherapeutics.com
Insights
Flow cytometry aids in diagnosing and monitoring celiac disease by analyzing intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs). This technique also helps detect complications and novel biomarkers, showcasing its versatility in gastrointestinal autoimmune research.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Gastroenterology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Celiac disease is a prevalent chronic autoimmune gastrointestinal disorder.
- Intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) play a crucial role in celiac disease pathogenesis.
- Accurate diagnosis and monitoring are essential for managing celiac disease and its complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the applications of flow cytometry in celiac disease diagnosis, monitoring, and research.
- To highlight the utility of IEL phenotyping in disease assessment and complication detection.
- To discuss novel flow cytometry-based methods for biomarker detection.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry for phenotyping of intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs).
- Analysis of IEL biomarkers, including CD3+ (αβ and γδ TcR) and CD3- cells.
- Detection of anti-transglutaminase antibodies and gluten using flow cytometry.
Main Results:
- Elevated CD3+ IELs and decreased CD3- IELs are characteristic diagnostic features.
- IEL biomarkers are valuable for assessing gluten-free diet response and diagnosing refractory celiac disease and enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma.
- Novel flow cytometry applications enable detection of key celiac disease biomarkers.
Conclusions:
- Flow cytometry is a versatile technique for diagnosing and monitoring celiac disease.
- It aids in assessing treatment response and identifying severe complications.
- Its application in solid tissue analysis offers significant potential for research and clinical practice.
Abstract:
This article reviews the multiple uses of flow cytometry in the diagnosis, monitoring and research of celiac disease, the most prevalent chronic autoimmune gastrointestinal disease. The phenotyping of intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) is of clinical relevance in the diagnosis of the disease given the characteristic features of elevated CD3+ IELs (αβ and γδ TcR) and the decrease in CD3- IELs. IEL biomarkers are also useful in the assessment of the response to the gluten-free diet and, importantly, in the diagnosis of the severe complications of celiac disease: refractory celiac disease and enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma. Novel applications of flow cytometry for the detection of anti-transglutaminase antibodies (a validated biomarker of celiac disease) and of gluten (the triggering antigen of the autoimmune process) are also discussed. The assessment of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers by flow cytometry in celiac disease is performed routinely in a growing number of centers and it is an example of the versatility of this technique and its applicability to the research and clinical study of solid tissues.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Histology of the Small Intestine
The intestinal lining features transverse folds called circular folds, each housing fingerlike projections known as intestinal villi. These villi are covered by a layer of simple columnar epithelium, also referred to as...
01:25Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease
01:23Renewal of Intestinal Stem Cells
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by transmural...