Abstract
Anti-reticulin and anti-endomisium autoantibodies are characteristic of celiac disease and directed against non-collagen proteins of the extracellular matrix; these are synthesized in the intestinal mucosa by the subepithelial myofibroblasts (MF). Tissue transglutaminase (tTG) has been identified as the main antigen for anti-endomisium antibodies. This project is aimed at locating tTG in the small intestinal mucosa and establishing its relationships with mucosal MF in celiac patients at diagnosis and in control individuals. Patients and methods: The study was carried out by immunohistochemistry and electron immunomicroscopy in biopsies of mucosa from celiac patients at the time of diagnosis and from controls. A polyclonal antibody against tTG was used as first antibody and a second IgG antibody conjugated with FITC, peroxidase, or gold particles was used to reveal the location of the antigen-antibody reaction, as required by the different techniques. Results and conclusions: tTG was detected by immunohistochemistry in the basement membrane of enterocytes and around subepithelial MF. Electron immunomicroscopy detected tTG in mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and the basolateral cell membrane of enterocytes, as well as around the cell membrane of MFs. The enzyme was also detected occasionally in the microvilli of the brush border. Although tTG distribution was similar in celiac patients and controls, the label was more dense in the former. These results confirm the increase of tTG activity in the mucosa of celiac patients compared to healthy controls, as already reported by others authors (Fondecyt 101-0578).
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Verbeke, S., Rios, G., Cruchet, S. et al. Localization of Tissue Transglutaminase in Intestinal Mucosa of Celiac Patients.. Pediatr Res 53, 872 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200305000-00050
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200305000-00050