Isolation and cloning of gluten-specifi c t cells in celiac disease

Abstract

In patients with celiac disease, but not in healthy controls, gluten-specifi c CD4 T cells are present in the small intestinal lamina propria. Specifi c stimulation of these T cells due to gluten consumption leads to the release of pro-infl ammatory cytokines, in particular IFNγ and IL-21. This leads to tissue damage, the typical morphological alterations like the fl attening of the intestinal epithelium, and a variety of diseaseassociated symptoms including malnutrition, diarrhea, stomach ache, and failure to thrive. Removal of gluten from the diet eliminates the trigger for these CD4 T cells and leads to recovery. These CD4 T cells thus play a crucial role in the disease pathogenesis. Here we describe how such T cells can be isolated and characterized.