Intraluminal Poly I:C predisposes to enteropathy in gluten-fed NOD-DQ8 mice

ARAYA R; JURY J; VERDU E; CHIRDO F

Chicago

Congreso; 15th International Coeliac Disease Symposium; 2013

There is no animal model for Coeliac Disease, a chronic enteropathy triggered by gluten-derived peptides. In C57BL/6 mice, intraperitoneal injection of poly (I:C)(PIC), a synthetic dsRNA, produces intestinal inflammation. In previous work, we showed that ingested gliadin is a critical factor but not sufficient for the development of enteropathy and insulitis in NOD-DQ8 mice. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the intraluminal administration of PIC predisposes to the development of a severe enteropathy after gluten challenge. Small intestine samples were collected from NOD-DQ8 mice after 3 or 12 h of intraluminal administration of PIC (30g/g of weight). In addition, other groups of animals were treated with PIC and kept on a diet with or without gliadins (5mg/day, three times a week) for two weeks. NOD-DQ8 PIC-treated mice showed histological changes in the intestinal mucosa (reduction in villus-to-crypt ratio and increment in Park?s score) at 12h post-treatment. The structure of the intestinal villi was clearly disrupted, while crypt depth was unaffected. Number of Intraepithelial lymphocytes was increased (p