Wheat gliadin exhibits non-specific cytotoxicity to a variety of human cells. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Non-specific cytotoxicity of wheat gliadin components towards cultured human cells.
Lancet. 1976 Feb 14;1(7955):339-41. PMID: 54743
Chromatographically separated fractions of a proteolytic digest of wheat gliadin were assayed for cytotoxic properties using cultured human embryonic intestinal, lung, kidney, adrenal, and HEp-2 cells. In all cell types noxious effects were observed microscopically over a 24 h period. The most active fraction was that previously shown to produce xylose malabsorption in subjects with coeliac disease, disruption of lysosomes, and inhibition of morphological recovery of cultured mucosa from a patient on a gluten-free diet.