Peptide hydrolase activity of human intestinal mucosa in adult coeliac disease.

The levels of two peptide hydrolases were studied in intestinal mucosa from normal subjects, patients with untreated coeliac disease, and treated patients. The mucosa from the untreated patients had significantly reduced activity against glycyl-glycine and leucylleucine. No such difference was found for the treated patients and it was concluded that the reduction in peptidase activity was secondary to the mucosal damage.