Intraepithelial T cells of the TcR gamma/delta+ CD8- and V delta 1/J delta 1+ phenotypes are increased in coeliac disease.
Expression of the gamma/delta T-cell receptor (TcR) for antigen on CD3+ intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) was studied in situ by two-colour immunofluorescence on jejunal tissue sections from 24 patients with coeliac disease and 17 controls. The proportion of intraepithelial TcR gamma/delta+ cells was significantly increased (P less than 0.002) in untreated (median 20%, range 11-53%) as well as in treated (gluten-free diet) coeliac disease (median 23%, range 16-55%) compared with controls (median 2%, range 0-39%). Although TcR alpha/beta+ IEL dominated both in controls and coeliac disease, T cells expressing the TcR gamma/delta were preferentially located within the epithelium rather than in the lamina propria. Paired staining for TcR gamma/delta and CD8 revealed that most (approximately 90%) intraepithelial TcR gamma/delta+ lymphocytes in coeliac disease were CD8-. A remarkably large fraction (median 67%, range 58-94%) of intraepithelial TcR gamma/delta+ cells expressed the V delta 1/J delta 1-encoded epitope revealed by monoclonal antibody delta TCS1. Our results suggested that increase of the intraepithelial TcR gamma/delta+ CD8- subset of T cells is particularly related to coeliac disease.
Halstensen
T S
TS
Institute of Pathology, University of Oslo, Rikshospitalet, Norway.
Scott
H
H
Brandtzaeg
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000097:blood; D017252:CD3 Complex; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000097:blood; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D000939:Epitopes; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta