Stem cell factor (SCF) can regulate the activation and expansion of murine intraepithelial lymphocytes.
Murine intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) express c-kit, the receptor for stem cell factor (SCF). SCF induced a low but significant proliferative response in IEL, but not in splenic T cells. SCF stimulation of IEL resulted in an expansion of the c-kit(+), TCRgammadelta(+)cell population. SCF-induced proliferation was dependent upon SCF-c-kit interactions, since antibody to c-kit blocked this response, and IEL obtained from c-kit mutant (W/W(v)) mice failed to respond to SCF. SCF acted synergistically with anti-TCRgammadelta and with concavalin A (Con A) to induce proliferation and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) production in IEL. Finally, mice injected with SCF had a significant increase in the number of IEL in the small intestine. SCF-treated mice had increased numbers of TCRalphabeta(+)and TCRgammadelta(+)cell populations, as well as increased numbers of c-kit(+)and c-kit(-)IEL. These data suggest that SCF-c-kit interactions play an important role in regulating IEL expansion and activation.
Wang
T
T
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1070, USA.
Langley
K E
KE
Gourley
W K
WK
Klimpel
G R
GR
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000276:immunology; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000502:physiology*
D000906:Antibodies; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D019089:Stem Cell Factor