An optimised whole blood interleukin-2 release assay is more sensitive than interferon-γ ELISpot for detecting and quantifying gluten-specific CD4⁺ T-cell responses in coeliac disease.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Detection of antigen-specific T cells has been crucial for the study of autoimmune illnesses such as coeliac disease (CD). In CD, an oral gluten challenge is required to expand the rare population of circulating gluten-specific T cells to detectable levels for IFN-γ ELISpot detection. We evaluated interleukin (IL)-2 detection as a simpler approach to identify gluten-specific T cells in CD.

Methods

HLA-DQ2.5+-treated CD adults (n = 10) were assessed before and 6-8 days after commencing a single-bolus gluten challenge. Serum IL-2 (GCIL-2), whole blood IL-2 (WBA) and peripheral blood mononuclear cell IFN-γ ELISpot responses were evaluated. Functional effects of peptides encompassing epitopes of varying immunogenicity and pan-HLA-DQ blocking were tested.

Res

SUBMITTER: Moscatelli OG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12695692 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature