title: IgA B lymphocytes and subpopulations of T lymphocytes in the intestinal villi of immunodeficient Wistar rats.
abstract: The aim of this study is to characterize intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) and lamina propria lymphocytes (LPL), as well as IgA B cells in the intestinal villi of the small intestine of rats which were fed a protein free diet (PF) and of those which were refed a 20% casein diet for 21 days (R21). Age matched control groups are also analyzed. T cell subsets and IgA-B cells were studied in tissue sections by the immunofluorescence technique. Lamina propria (LP) of the small intestine of the PF group were almost devoid of IgA-B cells; in the R21 group, the number of IgA-B cells was significantly diminished, when compared to the control group. The number of LPL in R21 group was not significantly different from the control group. W3/25+ (CD4) IEL diminished significantly in the intestinal villi of R21 group, while OX8+ (CD8) and OX22+ (CD45R) IEL were significantly increased when compared to the control group. These results indicate that: 1) Protein deficiency provokes an impairment of IgA-B cell terminal differentiation. 2) There is repopulation of LP by T cells in the R21 group. 3) The increased number of OX8+ (CD8) and OX22+ (CD45R) IEL might permit induction of intestinal delayed type hypersensitivity, thereby abrogating oral tolerance of systemic delayed type hypersensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Buenos Aires University, Argentina.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gonzalez Ariki
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Roux
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D011488:Protein Deficiency / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A