INTRAEPITHELIAL GAMMA DELTA-POSITIVE T-LYMPHOCYTES AND INTESTINAL VILLOUS ATROPHY/

We have evaluated the expression of different molecular forms of T cel l antigen receptor (TcR) in duodenal biopsies of pediatric patients wi th different forms of villous atrophy: celiac disease, autoimmune ente ropathy, intractable diarrhea of unknown origin, and severe cow milk i ntolerance. A panel of monoclonal antibodies recognizing alpha/beta an d gamma/delta TcR (and gamma/delta TcR subsets) was used for immunosta ining. The results showed an increase of T cells with gamma/delta-type TcR in celiac patients and also in patients with other forms of villo us atrophy with respect to normal controls. Amongst the gamma/delta Tc R-positive cells, the subset expressing the molecular product of V del ta 1 region was the most represented. The gamma/delta TcR-positive T c ells were mainly located within the epithelium: few of them were obser ved in the lamina propria. On the basis of these results, we hypothesi ze that the increased homing of gamma/delta TcR-positive T lymphocytes in gut epithelium observed in celiac disease is, at least in part, re lated to villous atrophy per se.