title: Class II MHC expression on rat intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes.
abstract: The expression of class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on rat intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) and mesenteric lymph node cells (MLNCs) were examined by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. As expected, MLNCs contain eight small populations of CD4+ class II MHC+ T-cells in addition to classical antigen presenting cells. In contrast, rat IELs include a significant population of class II MHC+ T-cells, predominantly in the CD8+ CD4-alpha beta TCR+ subset. IEL samples with a relatively high percentage of class II MHC+ cells also include some CD4+ class II MHC+ cells; IEL samples with a low percentage of class II MHC+ cells also include some CD4- CD8- class II MHC+ cells. The role of lymphocyte subpopulations in the intestinal epithelium may need to be revisited in consideration of these findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kearsey
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Stadnyk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta