Dietary gluten triggers concomitant activation of CD4+ and CD8+ αβ T cells and γδ T cells in celiac disease

A Han, EW Newell, J Glanville… - Proceedings of the …, 2013 - National Acad Sciences
A Han, EW Newell, J Glanville, N Fernandez-Becker, C Khosla, Y Chien, MM Davis
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2013National Acad Sciences
Celiac disease is an intestinal autoimmune disease driven by dietary gluten and gluten-
specific CD4+ T-cell responses. In celiac patients on a gluten-free diet, exposure to gluten
induces the appearance of gluten-specific CD4+ T cells with gut-homing potential in the
peripheral blood. Here we show that gluten exposure also induces the appearance of
activated, gut-homing CD8+ αβ and γδ T cells in the peripheral blood. Single-cell T-cell
receptor sequence analysis indicates that both of these cell populations have highly focused …
Celiac disease is an intestinal autoimmune disease driven by dietary gluten and gluten-specific CD4+ T-cell responses. In celiac patients on a gluten-free diet, exposure to gluten induces the appearance of gluten-specific CD4+ T cells with gut-homing potential in the peripheral blood. Here we show that gluten exposure also induces the appearance of activated, gut-homing CD8+ αβ and γδ T cells in the peripheral blood. Single-cell T-cell receptor sequence analysis indicates that both of these cell populations have highly focused T-cell receptor repertoires, indicating that their induction is antigen-driven. These results reveal a previously unappreciated role of antigen in the induction of CD8+ αβ and γδ T cells in celiac disease and demonstrate a coordinated response by all three of the major types of T cells. More broadly, these responses may parallel adaptive immune responses to viral pathogens and other systemic autoimmune diseases.
National Acad Sciences