Cytokine-producing cells in peripheral blood of children with coeliac disease secrete cytokines with a type 1 profile

SUMMARY Coeliac disease (CoD) is a small intestinal disorder characterized by crypt cell hyperplasia and villous atrophy, and the production of cytokines from T cells and macrophages are of importance for the histological changes seen in CoD. A peroral immunization with an antigen, which gives rise to a mucosal immune response, may increase the levels of circulating cytokine-producing cells, and we wanted to obtain a better picture of an eventual emergence of activated circulating T cells in the peripheral blood in children with CoD. The cytokine expression of interferon-gamma (IFN-g), IL-4, IL6 and IL-10 was measured at the single-cell level by an ELISPOT method in 38 children with CoD. The numbers of IFN-g-producing cells in the peripheral blood was increased in children with untreated CoD (P< 0·01) and after gluten challenge (P< 0·05) compared with healthy controls. Also, the numbers of IL-6-producing cells were increased (P< 0·05) after gluten challenge compared with the healthy controls. A paired comparison showed that the numbers of IFN-g-producing cells increased after gluten challenge (P< 0·05), whereas no such change was seen for IL-4- or IL-10-producing cells. There were no differences in the numbers of IFN-g-producing cells between the group of children with treated CoD and the groups of untreated or challenged CoD children. IL-4 production correlated with serum levels of total IgE. These results show that circulating mononuclear cells in children with active CoD secrete cytokines compatible with a type 1 response.