Purpose: The aim of this study was to clarify the role of eosinophils and mast cells in the small bowel in celiac disease.
Patients and methods: Patients with celiac disease (n = 10) were investigated by perfusion of a closed jejunal segment. The concentrations of certain granule constituents from eosinophils, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), and from mast cells/basophils, histamine, were measured and the jejunal secretion rates of these cellular markers were calculated.
Results: Compared with findings in healthy control subjects (n = 14), increased secretion rates were observed under basal conditions in patients with histopathologically active celiac disease. Gliadin, administered by perfusion to the jejunal segment, induced a fourfold increase in ECP secretion and a twofold increase of histamine secretion in patients with celiac disease (n = 7), but did not influence the secretion rates of these substances in healthy controls (n = 3). The secretion rate of ECP started to increase 20 minutes after challenge of the perfused segment with gliadin and reached maximum levels 40 minutes later. The secretion rate of histamine started to increase 40 minutes after gliadin administration. Concurrently with these inflammatory events, the secretion of albumin was doubled as a sign of increased mucosal leakage.
Conclusion: These data indicate that eosinophils and mast cells are both involved in the early gliadin-induced reactions of the small intestine, and suggest that these cells are effector cells participating in the celiac lesion of the mucosa.