title: Human colonic intra-epithelial lymphocytes are suppressor cells.
abstract: Human colonic intra-epithelial lymphocytes (IEL) suppress the proliferation of autologous lamina propria lymphocytes, but not autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells, when stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin. This suppressor function is mediated by a CD8-dependent soluble factor and is not related to the expression of the gamma delta T cell receptor. These findings may be relevant to the induction of mucosal tolerance. However, there is no defect in suppressor activity of colonic IEL in inflammatory bowel disease.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Unit, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, England, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hoang
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Dalton
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Jewell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003106:Colon / Q000166:cytology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*