Abstract
BackgroundCoeliac disease is a chronic intestinal inflammatory disorder due to an aberrant immune response to dietary gluten proteins in genetically predisposed individuals. Mucosal immune response through IgA secretion constitutes a first line of defence responsible for neutralizing noxious antigens and pathogens. The aim of this study was the characterization of the relationships between immunoglobulin-coated bacteria and bacterial composition of faeces of coeliac disease (CD) patients, untreated and treated with a gluten-free diet (GFD) and healthy controls.ResultsIgA-coated faecal bacterial levels were significantly lower in both untreated and treated CD patients than in healthy controls. IgG and IgM-coated bacterial levels were also significantly lower in treated CD patients than in untreated CD patients and controls. Gram-positive to Gram-negative bacteria ratio was significantly reduced in both CD patients compared to controls. Bifidobacterium, Clostridium histolyticum, C. lituseburense and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii group proportions were less abundant (P < 0.050) in untreated CD patients than in healthy controls. Bacteroides-Prevotella group proportions were more abundant (P < 0.050) in untreated CD patients than in controls. Levels of IgA coating the Bacteroides-Prevotella group were significantly reduced (P < 0.050) in both CD patients in comparison with healthy controls.ConclusionsIn CD patients, reduced IgA-coated bacteria is associated with intestinal dysbiosis, which altogether provide new insights into the possible relationships between the gut microbiota and the host defences in this disorder.
Highlights
Coeliac disease is a chronic intestinal inflammatory disorder due to an aberrant immune response to dietary gluten proteins in genetically predisposed individuals
The percentage of immunoglobulin-coated bacteria and the faecal microbiota composition of children with coeliac disease (CD) and controls were evaluated, shedding light on the possible associations between the intestinal bacteria and the host defences in this disorder
Higher percentages of IgA, IgM and IgG-coated bacteria were detected in healthy controls than in both CD patient groups
Summary
Coeliac disease is a chronic intestinal inflammatory disorder due to an aberrant immune response to dietary gluten proteins in genetically predisposed individuals. The active phase of the disease is characterized by a pro-inflammatory intestinal milieu resulting from an aberrant immune response to dietary gluten, along with increased epithelial permeability, which may favour the traffic of luminal antigens to the submucosa [1]. The gut microbiota constitutes a complex pool of antigens separated from the mucosal immunocompetent cells by just a single layer of epithelial cells In this mucosal immune system IgA constitutes a first line of defence responsible for neutralizing noxious antigens and pathogens [5]. It has been speculated that a transient infection could promote inflammation and increase permeability of the mucosa to antigens by activating a Th1 response with secretion of IFN-g, the major pro-inflammatory cytokine in CD patients [7,8]. The possible relationship between the gut microbiota composition and the first line of immune defence in CD patients remains uncharacterized
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