IMMUNOGENICITY OF MONOCOCCUM WHEAT IN CELIAC PATIENTS

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONResearch is intense to find wheat varieties of low or null toxicity for patients with celiac disease (CD). Among candidates there are diploid wheat species.AIMS&METHODSWe aimed to investigate the immunological properties of two accessions of diploid monococcum wheat (T.monococcum ), Monlis and ID331, as compared with hexaploid common wheat (T. aestivum). Interferon‐g (IFN‐g) production and proliferation of intestinal common wheat gliadin‐specific T cell lines and clones were measured as evidence of T cell activation by peptic‐tryptic (PT) digests of gliadins from the two monococcum lines. Furthermore, organ cultures of jejunal biopsies from 28 CD patients were set up to assess the effect of PT‐gliadin on innate and adaptive immune response by immunohistochemistry.RESULTSBoth Monlis and ID331 induced IFN‐γ production and proliferation in celiac mucosal T cells. In organ culture studies, Monlis PT‐digest was able to induce a significant increase of IL15 epithelial expression and crypt enterocyte proliferation, while ID331 had no effect. Both monococcum accessions induced intraepithelial T cells infiltration and lamina propria T cells activation.CONCLUSIONOur data show that both monococcum accessions, Monlis and ID331, activate celiac disease T cell response, suggesting that, most likely, these ancient crops are not tolerated by celiac patients. However, it remains to be ascertained whether ID331 is less effective in inducing CD because of its inability to activate the innate immune pathways.Grant Funding Source: ASPET Young Scientist Travel Awards