A new experimental system for the study of the pathogenesis of coeliac disease.

A method is described for the differential removal of epithelial cells from human intestinal-tissue specimens. Epithelial cells can be freed of contaminating cells such as erythrocytes, and on the basis of microscopic appearance, dye exclusion tests, and short-term survival in defined media are viable. The experimental system can be used to investigate the differential cytotoxic effects,if any, of specific gluten components upon cells from normal subjects and coeliac patients.