Jejunal lysozyme activity and the Paneth cell in coeliac disease.

Abstract

The jejunal mucosa of patients with coeliac disease contains significantly fewer Paneth cells (PCC) per crypt (p less than 0.001) and tissue lysozyme activity (JLA) P less than 0.001) when compared with a group of subjects with normal jejunal mucosa. Neither PCC nor JLA return to normal with complete clinical recovery and otherwise complete histological recovery on a gluten free diet. There is a significant linear correlation between JLA and PCC suggesting that the Paneth cell is the principal source of jejunal lysozyme.