ADENOVIRUS-12 E1A GENE DETECTION BY POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION IN BOTHTHE NORMAL AND CELIAC DUODENUM

A 12 amino acid sequence from the adenovirus 12 E1B protein is homolog ous at the protein level with a similar 12-mer derived from the wheat protein A-gliadin. It has been suggested that exposure to Ad 12 could sensitise individuals to gliadins with resultant gluten sensitive ente ropathy. In this study, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used t o analyse duodenal biopsy tissue from patients with coeliac disease fo r the presence of Ad 12. The sensitivity of the assay system was at le ast 1 in 10(5) cells and specificity was confirmed both by probing wit h an internal oligonucleotide and by direct sequencing. Ad 12 sequence s were detected in three of 17 patients with adult coeliac disease and in five of 16 adult controls with normal duodenal biopsies. Since exp osure to the virus would be predicted to occur in infancy we also stud ied patients with childhood coeliac disease diagnosed at less than 1 y ear of age. Ad 12 was positive in three of 10 childhood coeliac patien ts and one of seven controls. In addition, we studied a cohort of pati ents who presented with a diarrhoeal illness and associated anti cl gl iadin antibodies in 1983. These patients had duodenal biopsies perform ed at this time. One of three patients with abnormal histology had det ectable Ad 12 while two of 14 with normal findings were positive for A d 12. Finally, the potential oncogenic nature of Ad 12 prompted examin ation of a group of patients with intestinal tumours. Ad 12 DNA was, h owever, in only two of 19 tumour samples tested. These data indicate t hat Ad 12 can be successfully detected using PCR on paraffin embedded tissue. Furthermore, Ad 12 was detected at a relatively high level in normal duodenum. The results do not, however, support the hypothesis t hat prior exposure to Ad 12 is implicated in the pathogenesis of coeli ac disease.