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.