Open AccessInvolvement of interleukin-15 and interleukin-21, two γ-chain-related cytokines, in celiac disease
Author(s) -
Daniela De Nitto,
Ivan Monteleone,
Eleonora Franzè,
Francesco Pallone,
Giovanni Monteleone
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
world journal of gastroenterology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.427
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 2219-2840
pISSN - 1007-9327
DOI - 10.3748/wjg.15.4609
Subject(s) - enteropathy , immunology , immune system , pathogenesis , villous atrophy , interleukin 15 , intraepithelial lymphocyte , biology , interleukin , disease , tissue transglutaminase , cytokine , medicine , coeliac disease , pathology , biochemistry , enzyme
Celiac disease (CD), an enteropathy caused by dietary gluten in genetically susceptible individuals, is histologically characterized by villous atrophy, crypt cell hyperplasia, and increased number of intra-epithelial lymphocytes. The nature of CD pathogenesis remains unclear, but recent evidence indicates that both innate and adaptive immune responses are necessary for the phenotypic expression and pathologic changes characteristic of CD. Extensive studies of molecules produced by immune cells in the gut of CD patients have led to identification of two cytokines, namely interleukin (IL)-15 and IL-21, which are thought to play a major role in orchestrating the mucosal inflammatory response in CD. Here we review the current knowledge of the expression and function of IL-15 and IL-21 in CD.