Tissue Transglutaminse (TG) is an enzyme that is involved in protein synthesis and wound healing. It is present in the gut in abundant amount to build the villi and endomysium connective tissue from the continuous damage. This enzyme uses gliadin ( a component of gluten) as
its major substrate. TG converts glutamine (part of gliadin) into glutamic acid by a process known as �deamidation�. This conversion is important for making a bound between glutamic acid and lysine for protein synthesis. When TG combines with gliadin normally, this complex combines with Major Histocompatibility complex type II (HLA Q variants) without any consequences and it is then absorbed in the gut. If this HLA happened in the patient to be HLA-Q2, this complex combination is very antigenic and can be recognized by T-cells as a foreign antigen and start to order B-cell to produce IgA antibodies against TG. This leads to inhibition of this enzyme action with much lower protein synthesis leading to inability to rebuild the destroyed villi and the endomysium in the lamina propria of the mucosa. This leads to villous atrophy and increased lymphocyte and plasma cells in the lamina propria
Measurement of Anti-TG IgA is important in the diagnosis of celiac disease. It carries very high sensitivity and specificity reaching up to 100%. This test is preformed by ELISA test
Required material: 2 ml of serum
Conclusion: Anti-tissue transglutminase Antibody is an important test that carries very high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of celiac disease. It should be performed on all suspected patients even if other celiac antibodies are negative
In our effort to bring the best of clinical tests to medical practice in Jordan, we would like to announce that these tests are available now in Jordan in our lab only
Please contact us for any further inquiries
.Dr. Hussam Abu- Farsakh, M.D
Consultant Pathologist and Cytopathologist
American boards of Anatomic, Clinical Pathology and Cytopathology