Dynamics of non-conventional intraepithelial lymphocytes-NK, NKT, and γδ T-in celiac disease: relationship with age, diet, and histopathology.

Background: Intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) are a heterogeneous population of lymphocytes raised in celiac disease (CD), whose role in CD pathogenesis remains to be defined.

Aims: To investigate how the age of diagnosis, diet, and the severity of the histological lesions are related to the changes observed in unconventional IEL populations.

Methods: Prospective analysis of 101 confirmed celiac patients from a single center, including 66 at diagnosis (45 children, 21 adults) and 112 non-celiac controls (12 children, 100 adults).