CD8+CD103+ T cells analogous to intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes infiltrate the pancreas in chronic pancreatitis.
OBJECTIVE
Chronic pancreatitis is a painful chronic inflammatory disease of the exocrine pancreas that is associated with the replacement of functional parenchyma by extended fibrosis and with a massive infiltration of T lymphocytes. However, to date further characterization of infiltrating T cells in chronic pancreatitis has not been undertaken.


METHODS
Using the novel method of multiepitope imaging with fluorochrome-tagged specific monoclonal antibodies, which allows the simultaneous localization and characterization of T cells in tissues, we analyzed the distribution and phenotypes of T cells infiltrating the pancreas in chronic pancreatitis.


RESULTS
The mean CD4:CD8 ratio in 10 cases of chronic pancreatitis was 2.4:1. In order of decreasing frequency, the following markers were observed: CD45RO, CD18, TCRgammadelta, and CD103. The lymphocytes, especially of the CD4+ subset, were found mainly in the fibrous stroma, but T cells were also observed periductally. A T-cell subset bearing the phenotype CD8+CD103+, analogous to intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes, was found intracalating between the cells of the ductal epithelium.


CONCLUSIONS
Phenotyping of the T lymphocytes in chronic pancreatitis supports the concept of the involvement of cell-mediated cytotoxicity in the pathogenesis of this disease. In addition, intraepithelial lymphocytes were found interspersed between the ductal epithelial cells, pointing to a role of this T-cell subset as a first-line defense against deleterious epithelial events in chronic pancreatitis.
Ebert
M P
MP
Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, and Institute of Medical Neurobiology, University of Magdeburg, Germany.
Ademmer
K
K
Müller-Ostermeyer
F
F
Friess
H
H
Büchler
M W
MW
Schubert
W
W
Malfertheiner
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis*; D018821:CD18 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D039001:Integrin alpha Chains; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000473:pathology*; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000032:analysis; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000473:pathology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D018821:CD18 Antigens; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D000939:Epitopes; D039001:Integrin alpha Chains; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; C091367:alpha E integrins; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens