title: T-cell receptor expression in intestinal intra-epithelial lymphocyte subpopulations of normal and athymic mice.
abstract: Intra-epithelial lymphocytes (IEL) in murine small intestine were analysed for the presence of cell-surface antigens and T-cell receptor allotype in normal and athymic BALB/c mice by immunoperoxidase histochemistry on frozen sections and immunofluorescence on isolated IEL. In frozen sections, IEL of normal mice were 97.7% CD45+, 93.5% CD3+, 46.2% Thy-1+, 91.1% CD8+, 10.7% CD4+ and 21.1% KJ16+ (V beta 8.1 and 8.2). FACS analysis of isolated IEL confirmed the level of KJ16 expression and also demonstrated that 25% of IEL were F23.1+ (V beta 8.1-8.3). Immunofluorescent double-staining revealed a skewed distribution of T-cell receptor (TcR) expression on Thy-1+ and Thy-1- IEL. KJ16 and F23.1 were expressed on 25.9% and 32.7% of Thy-1+ IEL, respectively; however, the frequency of V beta 8 expression was diminished on Thy-1- IEL (4.1% KJ16+ and 12.1% F23.1+). IEL are present in athymic mice, but at reduced levels. In frozen sections these cells were 91.9% CD45+, 69.5% CD3+, less than 1% Thy-1+, 83.6% CD8+, less than 1% CD4+ and less than 1% KJ16+. Thus it appears that in normal mice there may be two distinct lineages of IEL, a thymus-dependent Thy-1+ population which utilizes the alpha beta T-cell receptor and a thymus-independent Thy-1- population (represented in athymic mice), which may possibly utilize the alternative gamma delta TcR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, St Bartholomews Hospital, London.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Viney
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kilshaw
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D000955:Antigens, T-Independent / Q000032:analysis; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis*; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D000955:Antigens, T-Independent; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens