The Activity of Antimicrobial Peptides in Pediatric Celiac Disease

Background: Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated disorder of the gut in which innate and adaptive responses are involved. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) constitute an arsenal of innate immunity regulators of paramount importance in the gut. However, the role of AMPs in CD is unclear. Aims: To evaluate the levels of fecal beta-defensin-2, fecal calprotectin (FC), and antibodies against bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI) in the serum of children with active CD and to compare them with those of healthy controls (HCs). Methods: We examined 76 children with recently diagnosed CD between the age of 2-10 years (average age: 6.1 +/- 1.2 years) and 32 HC (average age: 6.2 +/- 3.8 years) in this study. We evaluated the level of fecal beta-defensin-2 and FC levels in coprofiltrates, and the level of anti-BPI antibodies in blood serum. Correlation relationships between the parameters were assessed according to Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: Fecal beta-defensin-2 concentration was greater in the CD group than in HC group, amounting to 99.6 +/- 15.5 ng/mL and 64.0 +/- 2.4 ng/mL, respectively (p < 0.02). The level of FC in the CD children was 35.4 +/- 8.1 mu g/g, while that in the control group was 19.1 & PLUSMN; 1.1 mu g/g, (p < 0.05), representing a slightly increase. The concentration of anti-BPI antibodies in the CD and HC groups was 35.9 & PLUSMN; 10.1 U/mL and 5.2 +/- 3.2 U/mL, respectively (p < 0.002). There was a strong and direct correlation between fecal beta-defensin-2 and FC (r = 0.69), as well as a direct but weak relationship between fecal beta-defensin-2 and anti-BPI antibodies (r = 0.35). Conclusions: ur data reinforce that fecal beta-defensin-2 and anti-BPI antibodies are greatly increased in patients with active CD. These biomarkers may be components of epithelial innate immunity in the intestine, with each having a distinct functional role in intestinal6 mucosal defense.

Automated summary

This study found that fecal beta-defensin-2 and anti-BPI antibodies were significantly increased in children with active celiac disease. Fecal calprotectin levels were slightly increased. These biomarkers may have distinct functional roles in intestinal mucosal defense.