Endomysial antibody production is not related to histological damage after in-vitro gluten challenge.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether in vitro induction of endomysial antibodies is an in vitro marker of coeliac toxicity. DESIGN: To determine whether in vitro endomysial antaibodies induced by gliadin incubation correlate with histological damage induced by in vitro gliadin challenge. METHODS: Small-bowel organ cultures from seven patients with treated coeliac disease were incubated in an organ culture system with gliadin; histological damage was morphometrically evaluated and endomysial antibodies were measured in the organ culture supernatant by indirect immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Although incubation with gliadin caused histological damage, these was non detectable production of endomysial antibody. CONCLUSIONS: In vitro, endomysial antibody induction cannot be used as a marker of coeliac toxicity. Endomysial antibodies are not necessary for generating the histological lesion of coeliac disease.