Intra-epithelial lymphocytes: interferon-gamma production and suppressor/cytotoxic activities.
Human intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) proliferate minimally in response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), but produce as much interleukin-2 (IL-2) as do peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). The addition of sheep erythrocytes during activation of IEL with PHA markedly augments both T cell functions. This study evaluates the ability of IEL to produce interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and to develop suppressor and cytotoxic activities when stimulated with mitogens in the presence or absence of sheep erythrocytes. PHA-activated IEL produced as much IFN-gamma as did PHA-activated peripheral blood CD8+ T lymphocytes. IEL activated by concanavalin A (Con A) demonstrated less suppressor activity directed against T cell proliferation than did Con A-activated peripheral blood CD8+ T lymphocytes. IEL generated less mitogen-induced cellular cytotoxicity and lymphokine-activated killer cell activity than did peripheral blood CD8+ T lymphocytes. The addition of sheep erythrocyte lysates during mitogen stimulation of IEL markedly enhanced their proliferation and lymphokine production but did not affect their suppressor or cytotoxic activities.
Ebert
E C
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Department of Medicine, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick 08903-0019.
D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
D007376:Interleukin-2; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D003208:Concanavalin A; D007371:Interferon-gamma