T-CELLS FROM THE PERIPHERAL-BLOOD OF CELIAC-DISEASE PATIENTS RECOGNIZE GLUTEN ANTIGENS WHEN PRESENTED BY HLA-DR, HLA-DQ, OR HLA-DP MOLECULES

Coeliac disease (CD) is a T-cell mediated immunological disease of the small intestine which is precipitated in susceptible individuals by i ngestion of gluten. We recently reported that gliadin-specific T cells can be found in the small intestinal mucosa of CD patients, and that a preponderance of these T cells was restricted by the CD-associated D Q(alpha 10501,beta 1*0201)heterodimer. Here we report studies on whet her the same is found for gliadin specific T cells in the peripheral b lood of CD patients. T-cell responses towards gluten antigens in vitro were found for both most CD patients and healthy controls. Gluten-spe cific T-cell clones (TCC) were established from four CD patients. Alth ough a large proportion of these TCC were restricted by DQ molecules, including the CD-associated DQ(alpha 10501,beta 1*0201) heterodimer, several were restricted instead by DR or DP molecules. Thus, gluten-de rived peptides can be presented to T cells by several different HLA cl ass-II molecules, and the preferential DQ(alpha 10501,beta 1*0201) re striction of gluten-specific T cells in the small intestinal mucosa of CD patients is less pronounced than for similar T cells in the periph eral blood.