Characterization of cytokine-producing cells in mucosal effector sites: CD3+ T cells of Th1 and Th2 type in salivary gland-associated tissues.
The major purpose of this study was to elucidate Th1 [interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-2] and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-6) cytokine-producing CD3+ T cells in salivary glands, which are the major mucosal effector tissues in the oral region. Thus, CD3+ T cells were isolated from salivary gland-associated tissues (SGAT) which consist of the submandibular gland (SMG: approximately 46%), the periglandular lymph node (PGLN: approximately 72%), and the cervical lymph node (CLN: approximately 90%). When SMG CD3+ T cells were examined by Th1 and Th2 cytokine-specific ELISPOT and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay, high levels of both cytokine-specific spot-forming cells (SFC) and mRNA for IFN-gamma, and for IL-5 and IL-6 were noted as representative Th1 or Th2 cytokines, respectively. Following stimulation with concanavalin A (Con A), SMG CD3+ T cells expressed mRNA and produced lymphokines for an array of Th1 (IFN-gamma and IL-2) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-6) cytokines. In comparison to the SMG CD3+ T cells, PGLN and CLN contain lower numbers of IFN-gamma-, IL-5 and IL-6-producing T cells. When these two tissues were compared, PGLN CD3+ T cells contained higher numbers of cytokine-secreting cells than CLN. Further, IL-2 and IL-4 SFC and mRNA were also noted in addition to IFN-gamma, IL-5 and IL-6 after Con A activation. These findings showed that CD3+ T cells in SGAT, especially the SMG, are programmed to produce IFN-gamma, and IL-5 and IL-6 as Th1 and Th2 cytokines, respectively in vivo, although these cells are capable of producing other Th1 and Th2 cytokines after receiving appropriate T cell activation signals.
Department of Oral Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham 35294-2170.
T
T
Hiroi
K
K
Fujihashi
J R
JR
McGhee
H
H
Kiyono
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000502:physiology*
D017252:CD3 Complex; D016207:Cytokines; D015848:Interleukin-5; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007371:Interferon-gamma