RECTAL EPITHELIAL GAMMA-DELTA T-LYMPHOCYTE RESPONSES TO LOCAL GLUTEN CHALLENGE IN CELIAC-DISEASE

The proportion of intra-epithelial lymphocytes (IEL) that utilize the gamma/delta form of the T-cell receptor (TCR) is increased in coeliac disease, but their function remains unexplained. The response of intra epithelial lymphocytes to rectal gluten challenge in coeliac and contr ol subjects was studied after a rectal challenge of 2 g of Frazer's fr action III. A marked rise in CD3+ IEL occurred after challenge in the coeliac patients, peaking at 6 h and returning to normal by 48 h, with no significant changes in the gamma/delta TCR+ IEL. The IEL did not s ignificantly change after gluten challenge in the controls. Acute glut en challenge induces infiltration of the rectal mucosa by T cells in c oeliac patients, which is not accompanied acutely by increased numbers of gamma/delta TCR+ IEL. This study supports the hypothesis that alph a/beta TCR+ T cells may be of importance in the early response of coel iac patients to local gluten challenge.