Abstract

Cells containing immunoglobulin (IgA, IgG, IgM) have been measured and the distribution of extracellular and epithelial cell immunoglobulin assessed in treated patients with adult coeliac disease (ACD) and dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) before and after gluten was reintroduced to the diet. Patients with ACD and DH frequently had IgM and IgG cells above the normal range even before re-exposure to gluten, although the range of IgA cells was normal. In both diseases IgA and IgM cells increased after gluten with a proportionally greater rise in the latter, so that numbers of IgM cells, but not of IgA, exceeded the control range in all but one patient. There were increased quantities of IgA and IgM extracellularly in the lamina propria and in epithelial cells after challenge with gluten. Third component of complement was also found in some biopsies after re-exposure to gluten. These findings support the suggestion that gluten induces a humoral immunological response within the small intestinal mucosa and that both IgA and IgM systems are involved.