Immunogenic peptides can be detected in whole gluten by transamidating highly susceptible glutamine residues: implication in the search for gluten-free cereals

J Agric Food Chem. 2013 Jan 23;61(3):747-54. doi: 10.1021/jf3040435. Epub 2013 Jan 11.

Abstract

Tissue transglutaminase (TG2) plays a central role in celiac disease (CD) pathogenesis by strongly enhancing the immunogenicity of gluten, the CD-triggering antigen. By deamidating specific glutamine (Q) residues, TG2 favors the binding of gluten peptides to DQ2/8 molecules and, subsequently, their recognition by cognate T cells. Six peptides were previously identified within wheat gliadin whole extracts by tagging the TG2-susceptible Q residues with monodansylcadaverine (MDC) and nanospray tandem mass spectrometry (nanoESI-MS/MS). The immunogenicity of these peptides was next tested in gliadin-specific T-cell lines established from CD intestinal mucosa. Four peptides, corresponding to known epitopes of α- and γ-gliadins, induced cell proliferation and interferon (IFN)-γ production. Interestingly, one of the two non-T-cell stimulatory peptides corresponded to the 31-49 α-gliadin peptide implicated in the innate immune activation in CD mucosa. This study describes a strategy for identifying immunogenic gluten peptides potentially relevant for CD pathogenesis in protein extracts from wheat and other edible cereals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibody Formation / immunology*
  • Celiac Disease / immunology*
  • Cell Line
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / genetics
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / immunology
  • Gliadin / chemistry
  • Gliadin / immunology
  • Glutamine / chemistry
  • Glutens / chemistry
  • Glutens / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Mucosa / immunology
  • Middle Aged
  • Peptides / immunology*
  • Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry
  • Transglutaminases / genetics
  • Transglutaminases / immunology
  • Triticum / chemistry*
  • Triticum / immunology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • Peptides
  • Glutamine
  • Glutens
  • Gliadin
  • Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2
  • Transglutaminases
  • GTP-Binding Proteins