Immunohistochemical anlaysis of mucosal gamma-interferon production in coeliac disease

• Published in: Gut Vol. 33; no. 11; pp. 1482 - 1486
• Main Authors: Al-Dawoud, A, Nakshabendi, I, Foulis, A, McI Mowat, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-01-1992
• ISSN: 0017-5749

The role of gamma -interferon in the pathogenesis of enteropathies with an immunological basis such as coeliac disease, is unclear. gamma -interferon immunoreactive lymphocytes were quantified in jejunal biopsies from patients with coeliac disease and from normal controls. The results show that a relatively large proportion of lymphocytes in normal small bowel express gamma -interferon. They also indicate that in coeliac disease the major increase in the numbers of mucosal lymphocytes is the result of infiltration by lymphocytes not expressing gamma -interferon.