T cell subclasses in fetal human ileum.
Lymphocytes within fetal human ileum were studied by immunocytochemistry to determine the appearance of T cells in human small intestine and the role of enteric antigen in the accumulation of cells of the suppressor/cytotoxic phenotype in the gut epithelium. In fetal human gut epithelium, cells bearing the pan T cell marker UCHT1 (CD3) were present in all of the specimens studied (11-19 weeks gestation). Of these, UCHT4+ (CD8, suppressor/cytotoxic phenotype) predominated over the leu3a+ (CD4, helper/inducer phenotype), although the differences were not as marked as in postnatal gut. UCHT1+ cells were also present in the lamina propria, frequently as small aggregates beneath the epithelium.
D002648:Child; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007082:Ileum / Q000276:immunology*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification*