Table 2.
Immunostaining for intestinal trefoil factor (ITF) and mucin in goblet cells of distal duodenal mucosa of control and coeliac subjects (untreated and treated)
| Coeliac patients | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Controls | Untreated | Treated | |
| ITF immunostaining | |||
| Total number of goblet cells/mm2 | 43·3 ± 9·3 | 33·0 ± 11·0 | 39·2 ± 11·8 |
| ITF-positive cells (%) | 95·1 ± 2·8 | 60·8 ± 19·6** | 90·4 ± 15·3§§ |
| ITF-negative cells (%) | 4·9 ± 2·8 | 39·2 ± 19·6** | 9·6 ± 15·3§§ |
| Mucin immunostaining | |||
| Total number of goblet cells/mm2 | 50·5 ± 9·2 | 29·1 ± 7·1* | 42·2 ± 9·9§ |
| Mucin-positive cells (%) | 98·2 ± 0·7 | 97·2 ± 3·1 | 98·1 ± 2·0 |
| Mucin-negative cells (%) | 1·8 ± 0·7 | 2·8 ± 2·7 | 1·9 ± 2·0 |
The total number of goblet cells (per mm2) was determined in PAS-stained sections and ITF- and mucin-immunoreactivity was studied the same region in sequential sections. The table shows the total number (mean ± SD) of goblet cells and the proportions of these goblet cells that were immunoreactive for ITF or mucin.
*
P < 0·02
**
P < 0·001 compared to controls
§
P < 0·02
§§
P < 0·001 compared to untreated coeliac patients.