Expression of MHC antigens by intestinal epithelial cells. Effect of transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF-beta 2).
The effect of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and TGF-beta 2 on expression of MHC antigens by the human intestinal epithelial cell line HT-29 was examined by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Untreated HT-29 cells constitutively expressed HLA-ABC but little HLA-DR. Expression of both molecules was increased by IFN-gamma (100 U/ml, 24 h). TGF-beta 2 at concentrations > or = 0.5 ng/ml given before or simultaneously with IFN-gamma, inhibited the IFN-induced expression of HLA-DR. Small increases in HLA-ABC expression by IFN-gamma were further increased by pretreatment with TGF-beta 2, while a strong induction of HLA-ABC was inhibited by the TGF-beta 2 pretreatment. Our results suggest that the inhibitory action of the TGF-beta 2 on both HLA-ABC and HLA-DR correlates with the degree of induction following IFN-gamma treatment. Since TGF-beta 2 is present in milk and is produced by gut epithelial cells, one of its possible functions may be to regulate expression of HLA antigens in the neonatal intestine and/or diseased intestine.
Donnet-Hughes
A
A
Department of Immunology, Nestec Limited, Vers-chez-les-Blanc, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Schiffrin
E J
EJ
Huggett
A C
AC
D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000502:physiology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D006680:HLA Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D007371:Interferon-gamma