A common TCR beta-chain expressed by CD8+ intestinal mucosa T cells in ulcerative colitis.
The human intestine contains two populations of anatomically distinct T cells, intraepithelial lymphocytes and lamina propria lymphocytes (LPLs), both of which preferentially use the TCR-alpha beta. Recent studies of TCR alpha- and beta-chain usage by intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes, which are predominantly CD8+ T cells, have demonstrated that these cells are oligoclonal in normal intestine. This report examined the TCR beta-chains expressed by purified CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from normal colonic lamina propria and from the intestinal mucosa of patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC). The selective expansion of CD8+ T cell clones, and to a lesser extent CD4+ T cell clones, was observed among both normal LPLs and mucosal T cells in UC. These expanded LPL clones from normal donors were all distinct, but the mucosal T cells isolated from five of nine patients with UC contained CD8+ T cells expressing related V beta 3-J beta 1.6 TCRs. These observations provide evidence for an Ag-specific mucosal T cell response in UC. Further studies will be required to identify this Ag and address whether the T cell response to it plays a primary role in initiating the disease or is secondary to the inflammatory response.
Chott
A
A
Hematology-Oncology Division, Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Probert
C S
CS
Gross
G G
GG
Blumberg
R S
RS
Balk
S P
SP
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000276:immunology; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics
D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta