title: Tissue distribution of human gamma delta T cells: no evidence for general epithelial tropism.
abstract: In man and mice only a small proportion of T cells in the peripheral lymphoid compartment express the gamma delta T cell receptor (TCR). In mice, however, gamma delta T cells comprise the predominant population at particular epithelial sites--in epidermis and epithelia of intestine, reproductive organs, and tongue. The distribution of gamma delta T cells in normal human tissues was investigated, paying particular attention to epithelial layers. In all lymphatic organs and in epithelia of a wide variety of non-lymphatic organs, including the respiratory tract, male and female reproductive organs and tongue, gamma delta T cells constituted less than 5% of total T cells, with the remainder expressing TCR alpha beta. The only exception was the intestine, where gamma delta T cells were preferentially situated in the columnar epithelium of the crypts, rather than in the lamina propria. It is concluded, therefore, that human gamma delta T cells do not display a general epithelial tropism and are, in terms of relative numbers, no more able than alpha beta T cells to carry out continuous surveillance of the immune system against infection or transformation in epithelia. gamma delta T cells may, however, have a specialised function in the epithelium of the intestinal tract.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Rotterdam Cancer Center, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Vroom
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scholte
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ossendorp
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Borst
mesh_terms: D004064:Digestive System / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D006413:Hematopoietic System / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000276:immunology; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000276:immunology*; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D014566:Urogenital System / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta