Evaluation of crypt apoptotic bodies and apoptotic indices in pediatric celiac disease by routine staining and H2AX immunostaining.

Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated disorder with premature apoptosis occurring along the entire crypt-villous axis. H2AX is the end product of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. This is the first study to assess apoptotic body counts (ABC) by H & E and apoptotic indices (AI) by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in pediatric CD. The aim of the current study was to evaluate ABC in pediatric patients with CD prior to and following institution of a gluten free diet (GFD). Sixty-three pediatric endoscopic duodenal samples were assessed and divided into three groups. A total of 21 samples from treatment naive CD patients, 21 from the same patients after instituting a GFD, and 21 from non-celiac patients as a control group. Histopathological evaluation of ABC by H & E, and immunohistochemistry assessment of apoptotic indices (AI) by H2AX antibody were performed. The mean maximum ABC and AI were significantly higher in treatment naive CD...