Specific high-affinity binding sites for a synthetic gliadin heptapeptide on human peripheral blood lymphocytes.

The synthetic peptide containing residues 43-49 of alpha-gliadin, the major protein component of gluten, has previously been shown to inhibit the production of lymphokine activities by mononuclear leukocytes. We now demonstrate using radiolabeled alpha-gliadin(43-49) that human peripheral blood lymphocytes express approximately 20,000-25,000 surface receptors for this peptide, with a dissociation constant (KD) of 20 nM. In addition, binding is inhibited by naloxone and an enkephalin analog, thus confirming the functional correlate which demonstrates inhibition by these agents of alpha-gliadin(43-49) functional effects. Furthermore, B-lymphocytes bind specifically a greater amount of [125I]alpha-gliadin(43-49) than T-lymphocytes. The lymphocyte alpha-gliadin(43-49) receptor may play an important role in mediating the immunological response to alpha-gliadin.