Abstract
We have previously shown that HLA class II molecules are expressed by small intestinal epithelial cells, both in control subjects with a normal mucosa (1) and in coeliac disease (CD) patients with total villous atrophy (2). CD is HLA-associated, and particularly related to DR3, DR7 (3) and DQ2 (A,5). It develops in genetically susceptible individuals because of gluten ingestion. Antigens of gluten may be presented by enterocytes to intraepithelial T cells as an initial step in the pathogenesis of CD. Class II-positive rat enterocytes have in fact been reported to perform antigen presentation (6). In this study we used a panel of monoclonal antibodies to better define the epithelial expression of class II subregion products in CD.
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