title: Isolation studies--intestinal T lymphocytes.
abstract: Despite the variation in results of studies on isolated intestinal mucosal T cells obtained in different laboratories, it can be said that: 1) T lymphocytes and their subsets can be isolated from normal and from diseased intestinal mucosa. 2) Most of the functions of these T cells are, as far as has been studied, similar to those of peripheral blood T tions of T lymphocytes and the different distribution of these antigens between intestinal epithelium, which normally shows strong expression of HLA-A,B,C antigens but weak or no expression of HLA-DR antigens, and the lamina propria, which contains large numbers of histiocytic cells which are rich in HLA-DR antigens, may be vital to the functions of intestinal T cells. Removal of cells from the close association with these antigens may therefore alter their functions. Secondly, studies of isolated cell populations must be interpreted in combination with morphological examination of cell populations in situ. Such an approach will increase our understanding of the role of T cells in gut immunity in health and disease.
mesh_terms: D002469:Cell Separation; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology