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Identification of common epitopes on gliadin, enterocytes, and calreticulin recognised by antigliadin antibodies of patients with coeliac disease
  1. S Krupičkováa,
  2. L Tučkováa,
  3. Z Flegelováb,
  4. M Michalakd,
  5. J R F Walterse,
  6. A Whelane,
  7. J Harriesa,
  8. J Vencovskýc,
  9. H Tlaskalová-Hogenováa
  1. aDepartment of Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, bResearch Institute of Biopharmacy and Veterinary Drugs, Jílové, cInstitute of Rheumatology, Prague, Czech Republic, dDepartment of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, eImperial College School of Medicine, London, UK
  1. Dr L Tučková, Department of Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic.

Abstract

Background Sera of patients with coeliac disease, containing IgA and IgG antigliadin antibodies (AGA) and various IgA autoantibodies, react with isolated enterocytes. AGA cross react with enterocyte antigens, one of which has been identified as calreticulin.

Aims To characterise the antigenic structures of gliadin, enterocytes, and calreticulin recognised by AGA from patients with active coeliac disease.

Methods AGA were isolated from sera of nine patients by affinity chromatography and tested by competitive ELISA using 40 α-gliadin synthetic dodecapeptides (A1–F6).

Results Reactivity of gliadin with all purified AGA tested was inhibited by peptide A4 at the N-terminal region; by C2, C3, and D4 at the central region; and by F3 and F4 at the C-terminal region of the gliadin molecule. AGA cross reactivity with enterocytes was inhibited by peptides A4, D1–D4, and F6 and with calreticulin by peptides A4, D3, and D4. As dominant epitopes AGA of coeliac patients recognise similar structures corresponding to peptides A4, D3, D4, and F6 present on gliadin, enterocytes, and calreticulin. Substitution of glutamine in the A4 peptide by glutamic acid caused loss of inhibitory capacity. Shortening of peptide A4 on the N-terminal by three amino acids increased its inhibitory effect.

Conclusions AGA of patients with coeliac disease react with similar structures on gliadin and potential autoantigens on enterocytes.

  • coeliac disease
  • antigliadin antibodies
  • enterocyte autoantigens
  • cross reactivity
  • Abbreviations

    AGA
    antigliadin antibodies
    MHC
    major histocompatibility complex
    EMA
    endomysial antibody
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  • Abbreviations

    AGA
    antigliadin antibodies
    MHC
    major histocompatibility complex
    EMA
    endomysial antibody
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