S. Natter et al., IgA cross-reactivity between a nuclear autoantigen and wheat proteins suggests molecular mimicry as a possible pathomechanism in celiac disease, EUR J IMMUN, 31(3), 2001, pp. 918-928
Celiac disease patients display IgA antibody reactivity to wheat as well as
to human proteins. We used serum IgA from celiac patients and, for control
purposes, from patients with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and from
healthy individuals to identify celiac disease-specific IgA autoantigens in
nitrocellulose-blotted extracts from various human cell types (epithelial,
endothelial, intestinal cells, fibroblasts). The pattern, recognition inte
nsity and time course of IgA autoreactivity was monitored using serial seru
m samples obtained from celiac children before and under gluten-free diet.
By immunoblot inhibition and subcellular (cytosolic, nuclear) cell fraction
ation we identified a 55 kDa nuclear autoantigen expressed in intestinal, e
ndothelial cells and in fibroblasts which was recognized by IgA antibodies
of approximately half of the celiac disease patients and cross-reacted with
wheat proteins. IgA reactivity to the 55 kDa autoantigen disappeared durin
g gluten-free diet and was inhibited after pre-absorption of sera with whea
t proteins but not with tissue transglutaminase, previously reported as the
unique celiac disease-specific autoantigen. In conclusion, we defined a no
vel 55 kDa celiac disease-specific nuclear IgA autoantigen which shares epi
topes with wheat proteins and which is different from tissue transglutamina
se and calreticulin. Although the newly defined autoantigen was recognized
much less frequently than tissue transglutaminase, our data suggest molecul
ar mimicry between wheat and human proteins as a possible pathomechanism fo
r the induction and/or maintenance of mucosal tissue damage in celiac disea
se.