ISSN:
1365-3083
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
The production of cytokines from T cells and macrophages is of potential importance for the histological changes apparent in coeliac disease (CoD). Small intestinal biopsy specimens from children with CoD and disease control subjects were investigated for their content of cytokines and tissue transglutaminase (tTG). The transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) expression was increased in the lamina propria of children with villous atrophy. In contrast, TGF-β3 was expressed at a higher level in the epithelium and the lamina propria of the disease control subjects. The tTG expression was increased in the small intestine of CoD patients as compared with that in subjects. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) was detected in the lamina propria of both CoD patients and controls, and some of the investigated biopsy specimens also showed IL-4 expression in the epithelium. We conclude that children with active CoD could have an altered expression of TGF-β and tTG in the small intestine and that a disturbed regulation of TGF-β may be of importance in the immune pathogenesis of CoD.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3083.2002.01157.x
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