Objective: To investigate the presence of genotoxicity in intestinal epithelial cells and lymphocytes in celiac patients and to assess DNA repair capacity.

Material and Method: The study comprised 15 newly diagnosed celiac patients, 14 celiac patients receiving gluten-free diet, and 9 non-celiac patients who had undergone endoscopy for various reasons (control group). Comet assay was performed to detect DNA injury. DNA injury was measured both after being exposed to stress by hydrogen peroxide and 20 minute regeneration period to measure DNA repair capacity.

Results: DNA injury in the intestinal epithelial cells was significantly higher in the newly diagnosed celiac patients than that in the controls (Tail DNA%: 25.9±1.5 and 15.7±0.9, respectively, p<0.001). Although DNA injury (Tail DNA%) in the lymphocytes was higher in the newly diagnosed celiac patients (3.7±0.3) than that in the celiac patients on diet (2.9±0.9; p=0.020), it was not different from the controls (4.3±0.3; p=0.100). DNA injury in the lymphocytes after hydrogen peroxide exposure was higher in the newly diagnosed celiac patients than that in the celiac patients on diet and controls (Tail DNA%: 14.2±0.6, 10.7±0.5 and 12.4±0.6, respectively). The remaining DNA injury after regeneration period was also higher in the newly diagnosed celiac patients compared to those in the celiac patients on diet and controls (Tail DNA%: 8.4±0.5, 6.3±0.3 and 6.4±0.4, respectively).

Conclusion: Genotoxicity was detected in the intestinal epithelial cells of the newly diagnosed celiac patients. Lymphocytes of these patients were more susceptible against stress and had low DNA repair capacity. Thus, DNA injury in celiac patients may contribute to the development of malignant diseases.

Celiac disease Comet assay Cancer