Gluten‐like cellular response of maize prolamins in intestinal biopsies and Caco‐2 cells (916.6)

Abstract

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune‐mediated enteropathy triggered by wheat gliadins in genetically prone individuals. Some celiac patients are affected by maize zeins, possibly by a gliadin‐like immune response. The immunogenic peptides of gliadin (G33mer) and zein (Z34mer) were used to evaluate activation of cultured intestinal biopsies of patients with different gastrointestinal diseases. Additionally, changes in the permeability of a monolayer of Caco‐2 cells challenged with peptides of digested gliadin (GdDig) and zeins (ZeDig), were evaluated. Pathological report indicated inflamed duodenal mucosa (7), mucosal atrophy (2) and normal mucosa (1) in 10 patient biopsies. Interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) and interleucin (IL‐2) specifically increased in atrophic mucosa by effect of G33mer, while the Z34mer induce a smaller increase in cases of atrophic and inflamed mucosa compared to control. ZeDig peptides and G33mer induced a higher permeability of the monolayer of Caco‐2 cells, as compared to that induced by GdDig or Z34mer. Zeins could have an effect on disrupted mucosa similar to gliadins but not necessarily by induction of the initial damage.