Endomysial antibody production is not related to histological damage after in vitro gluten challenge.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether in vitro induction of endomysial antibodies is an in vitro marker of coeliac toxicity.
DESIGN: To determine whether in vitro endomysial antibodies induced by gliadin incubation correlate with histological damage induced by in vitro gliadin challenge.
METHODS: Small-bowel organ cultures from seven patients with treated coeliac disease were incubated in an organ culture system with gliadin; histological damage was morphometrically evaluated and endomysial antibodies were measured in the organ culture supernatant by indirect immunofluorescence.
RESULTS: Although incubation with gliadin caused histological damage, there was no detectable production of endomysial antibody.
CONCLUSIONS: In vitro, endomysial antibody induction cannot be used as a marker of coeliac toxicity. Endomysial antibodies are not necessary for generating the histological lesion of coeliac disease.