Development of CD8 alpha/beta + TCR alpha beta intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes in athymic nu/nu mice and participation in regional immune responses.
On the basis of the CD8 coreceptor expression, T-cell receptor (TCR)alpha beta-bearing intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (i-IEL) segregate into two populations. The CD8 alpha alpha + TCR alpha beta i-IEL develop thymus independently, whereas the CD8 alpha beta + TCR alpha beta i-IEL are generally considered to be thymus dependent. Flow cytometry analysis revealed a distinct population of CD8 alpha beta + TCR alpha beta i-IEL in individual athymic nu/nu mice. The i-IEL encompassing CD8 alpha beta + TCR alpha beta cells expressed potent cytolytic and interferon-gamma-producing activities. These findings demonstrate that CD8 alpha beta + TCR alpha beta i-IEL can develop in nu/nu mice independently from a functional thymus and suggest that these cells, directly or indirectly, perform biological functions in the gut.
Emoto
M
M
Department of Immunology, University of Ulm, Germany.
Emoto
Y
Y
Kaufmann
S H
SH
D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008819:Mice, Nude; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D007371:Interferon-gamma