Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:3.2.1.108 (lactase)
 2,133 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

At endoscopy, the duodenum in Whipple's disease frequently appears abnormal and some clinical features such as gastrointestinal blood loss and anaemia suggest epithelial damage. However, the intestinal epithelial cells themselves appear to be normal on light and electron microscopy. The aims of this study were to analyse in detail the cytological changes in epithelial cells over time and in response to therapy in biopsies obtained from 20 patients, to investigate the functional repercussion on digestive enzymes such as lactase, and to assess the expression by the epithelial cells of MHC antigens. Cytological changes were minimal at both the light- and the electron-microscopic level and MHC class I expression was preserved. However, changes indicative of functional deficits were demonstrated. Lactase and MHC class II expression were reduced or even absent. Antibiotic therapy resulted in normalization within 3-6 months. These findings are consistent with the clinical evolution and are of interest with regard to the importance of the immune response in aetiopathogenesis.
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PMID:Whipple's disease: a histological, immunocytochemical, and electron microscopic study of the small intestinal epithelium. 752 39

The gastrointestinal tract possesses a huge epithelial surface area and performs many different tasks. Amongst them are the digestive and absorptive functions. Disorders of intestinal absorption and secretion comprise a variety of different diseases, e.g. coeliac disease, lactase deficiency or Whipple's disease. In principle, impaired small intestinal function can occur with or without morphological alterations of the intestinal mucosa. Therefore, in the work up of a malabsorptive syndrome an early small intestinal biopsy is encouraged in conjunction with breath tests and stool analysis to guide further management. In addition, there is an array of functional tests, the clinical availability of which becomes more and more limited. In any case, early diagnosis of the underlying pathophysiology is most important, in order to initiate proper therapy. In this chapter, diagnostic procedure of malabsorption is discussed with special attention to specific disease like coeliac disease, Whipple's disease, giardiasis and short bowel syndrome. Furthermore, bacterial overgrowth, carbohydrate malabsorption and specific nutrient malabsorption (e.g. for iron or vitamins) and protein-losing enteropathy are presented with obligatory and optional tests as used in the clinical setting.
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PMID:Disorders of intestinal secretion and absorption. 1950 67