Stimulation of lymphocytes from patients with coeliac disease by a subfraction of gluten

Abstract

Peripheral-blood lymphocytes from patients with coeliac disease showed a marked increase in D.N.A. synthesis after incubation in vitro with a subfraction of gluten. Lymphocytes from control patients showed no increased D.N.A. synthesis under the same conditions. The possible use of this specific lymphocyte-stimulation assay as a screening test for coeliac disease is discussed.