title: Distribution of alpha 4 beta 7 and alpha E beta 7 integrins on thymocytes, intestinal epithelial lymphocytes and peripheral lymphocytes.
abstract: Beta 7 is expressed on subsets of thymocytes, while T and B lymphocytes show heterogeneous expression of beta 7. Here, we examine the phenotype of the thymocyte and lymphocyte subsets which express alpha 4 beta 7 and alpha E beta 7 using mAb against alpha E, beta 7 and mAb DATK32 which recognizes a combinatiorial epitope on alpha 4 beta 7+ thymocytes have a mature phenotype: TcR+, CD11a(hi)CD44(hi)HSA(dull). Small subsets of double-negative CD4-CD8-, single-positive CD4+ and CD8+ thymocytes express beta 7, while double-positive CD4+CD8+ thymocytes are beta 7-. However, two integrins alpha E beta 7 and alpha 4 beta 7 recognized by anti-beta 7 are not expressed on an identical subpopulation of thymocytes, as alpha E beta 7+ alpha 4 beta 7-, alpha E beta 7 + alpha 4 beta 7+ and alpha E beta 7- alpha 4 beta 7+ thymocyte subsets are evident. Similarly, intraepithelial lymphocytes express high levels of alpha E beta 7 but little alpha 4 beta 7. In the spleen, Peyer's patches and lymph nodes, alpha 4 beta 7 is expressed at higher levels on most B lymphocytes than on the majority of T lymphocytes, while a small subset of T lymphocytes, which includes both CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes, express high levels of beta 7 in the form of alpha 4 beta 7 and alpha E beta 7, although, as observed with lymphocytes, not all alpha 4 beta 7 hi CD4+ lymphocytes expressed alpha 4 beta 7. The population of alpha 4 beta 7 hi CD4 lymphocytes are enriched in Peyer's patches and form subsets of the memory CD4+ lymphocyte population, which can be further subdivided on the basis of alpha E beta 7, L-selectin and alpha 4 expression. Therefore, memory CD4+ lymphocytes are highly heterogeneous in their expression of adhesion receptors, and presumably these subpopulations will exhibit very different trafficking properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Stanford University, USA.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Andrew
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Rott
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kilshaw
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Butcher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D002469:Cell Separation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D015870:Gene Expression; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D016023:Integrins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000032:analysis; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010581:Peyer's Patches / Q000166:cytology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016023:Integrins; C071777:integrin alpha4beta7; C070709:integrin alphaEbeta7; D019041:L-Selectin