Open AccessInjection of prototypic celiac anti-transglutaminase 2 antibodies in mice does not cause enteropathy
Author(s) -
Christian Borgen Lindstad,
M. Fleur du Pré,
Jorunn Stamnæs,
Ludvig M. Sollid
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0266543
Subject(s) - tissue transglutaminase , enteropathy , antibody , lamina propria , immunoglobulin a , villous atrophy , immunology , autoantibody , gluten , medicine , intestinal mucosa , biology , pathology , immunoglobulin g , disease , coeliac disease , epithelium , enzyme , biochemistry
Background Celiac disease is an autoimmune enteropathy driven by dietary intake of gluten proteins. Typical histopathologic features are villous flattening, crypt hyperplasia and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the intestinal epithelium and lamina propria. The disease is hallmarked by the gluten-dependent production of autoantibodies targeting the enzyme transglutaminase 2 (TG2). While these antibodies are specific and sensitive diagnostic markers of the disease, a role in the development of the enteropathy has never been established. Methods We addressed this question by injecting murine antibodies harboring the variable domains of a prototypic celiac anti-TG2 immunoglobulin into TG2-sufficient and TG2-deficient mice evaluating for celiac enteropathy. Results We found no histopathologic abnormalities nor clinical signs of disease related to the injection of anti-TG2 IgG or IgA. Conclusions Our findings do not support a direct role for secreted anti-TG2 antibodies in the development of the celiac enteropathy.