Effect of Maize Prolamins on Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Celiac Disease Patients

Celiac disease (CD) is an enteropathy induced by wheat prolamins (gliadins) and in some rare cases by maize prolamins (zeins) possibly due to a similar immune response. The aim was to study the cellular immune response to zeins in comparison to gliadins of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from CD patients. Isolated PBMC from two treated CD patients and three non-CD controls were challenged in vitro with gliadins or zeins and released gamma-interferon (IFN-γ) in culture medium was measured. PBMC were stimulated with gliadin or zein immunogenic peptides or their digested fractions (3-5 kDa).The gliadin peptide G33-mer induced an expected IFN-γ releasing of PBMC from both patients 1 and 2, with a higher level between days 0 and 6 for patients 1 and no differences para patient 2. The zein peptide Z34-mer induced a higher increase of IFN-γ in both CD patients at 0 day, even higher that it of G33-mer for patient 2, and both of them were highly decreased at day 6. Finally, the zein digested fraction induce an IFN-γ release similar to that of gliadin digested fraction in both cases, although negligible for patient 1 and significant for patient 2. In conclusion, the cellular response to zeins was partially similar to it of gliadins after an in vitro challenge.