title: T lymphocytes from the normal human peritoneum contain high frequencies of Th2-type CD8+ T cells.
abstract: The majority of peritoneal T lymphocytes have been shown to be CD8+ and to co-express CDw60. Expression of CDw60 characterizes CD8 T cells capable of secreting interleukin (IL)-4 and supporting IgG production by B cells. We analyzed at the clonal level the functional cytokine profile of CD8+ T lymphocytes from the normal human peritoneum. While the majority of the clones produced interferon (IFN)-gamma and exhibited high alloantigen-specific cytolytic activity, some clones secreted IL-4 and IL-5 but no detectable IFN-gamma. These Th2-type CD8+ T cell clones provided substantial B cell help for IgG and IgA synthesis and exhibited reduced cytolytic activity. Our results suggest that distinct subsets of CD8+ T cell may occur in different immune compartments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Birkhofer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rehbock
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fricke
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D002469:Cell Separation; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000378:metabolism; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D018418:Th2 Cells
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; C064741:CDw60 antigen; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D015848:Interleukin-5; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma