IADR Abstract Archives
Matriptase in the Oral Mucosa of Patients With Coeliac Disease
Objectives: To examine the distribution of matriptase in buccal mucosa from patients with coeliac disease (CD) and
healthy controls. Matriptase, a membrane-tethered serine protease, plays essential roles in epithelial differentiation
and epithelial barrier formation. Its activity is tightly regulated by its inhibitor hepatocyte growth factor activator
inhibitor-1 (HAI-1).
Methods: Biopsies of buccal mucosa were obtained from 20 patients diagnosed with CD (16 female and 4 male, mean
age 49.1±15.2 years) and 10 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (48.3±14.3 years). The biopsies were fixed in
acetone (24h), transferred to a 25% sucrose solution (24h), embedded in Tissue-Tek® and snap-frozen. Tissue
sections were stained by immunohistochemistry using three monoclonal mouse anti-human antibodies: the M24 for
total matriptase, the M69 for activated matriptase in complex with HAI-1 and the M19 for HAI-1. Sections were also
stained with haematoxylin/eosin for histomorphological analysis.
Results: Histomorphological analysis did not reveal any structural changes in the oral mucosa of patients and healthy
controls. M24 and M19 immunoreactivity was observed in the cells of the basal layer and of the stratum spinosum
layer surrounding the cell membrane, but also being present as granules in the cytoplasm of some of the cells. The
reactivity was more pronounced in patients with CD than in healthy controls. M69 immunoreactivity was seen
sporadically in the upper superficial cell layer of the epithelium within the cytoplasm, and only in sections of two
patients with CD and three healthy controls, suggesting that activation of matriptase takes place.
Conclusions: The more extensive immunoreactivity of M24 (total matriptase) and M19 (HAI-1) suggest a higher level
of matriptase and HAI-1 in CD patients as compared to healthy controls. The presence of M69 reactivity suggests that
activation of matriptase takes place, leading to a brief presence of free active matriptase before the proteolytically
inactive matriptase-HAI-1 complex is formed.
healthy controls. Matriptase, a membrane-tethered serine protease, plays essential roles in epithelial differentiation
and epithelial barrier formation. Its activity is tightly regulated by its inhibitor hepatocyte growth factor activator
inhibitor-1 (HAI-1).
Methods: Biopsies of buccal mucosa were obtained from 20 patients diagnosed with CD (16 female and 4 male, mean
age 49.1±15.2 years) and 10 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (48.3±14.3 years). The biopsies were fixed in
acetone (24h), transferred to a 25% sucrose solution (24h), embedded in Tissue-Tek® and snap-frozen. Tissue
sections were stained by immunohistochemistry using three monoclonal mouse anti-human antibodies: the M24 for
total matriptase, the M69 for activated matriptase in complex with HAI-1 and the M19 for HAI-1. Sections were also
stained with haematoxylin/eosin for histomorphological analysis.
Results: Histomorphological analysis did not reveal any structural changes in the oral mucosa of patients and healthy
controls. M24 and M19 immunoreactivity was observed in the cells of the basal layer and of the stratum spinosum
layer surrounding the cell membrane, but also being present as granules in the cytoplasm of some of the cells. The
reactivity was more pronounced in patients with CD than in healthy controls. M69 immunoreactivity was seen
sporadically in the upper superficial cell layer of the epithelium within the cytoplasm, and only in sections of two
patients with CD and three healthy controls, suggesting that activation of matriptase takes place.
Conclusions: The more extensive immunoreactivity of M24 (total matriptase) and M19 (HAI-1) suggest a higher level
of matriptase and HAI-1 in CD patients as compared to healthy controls. The presence of M69 reactivity suggests that
activation of matriptase takes place, leading to a brief presence of free active matriptase before the proteolytically
inactive matriptase-HAI-1 complex is formed.