Activation of T-cell receptor-gammadelta+ cells in the intestinal epithelia of KN6 transgenic mice.
We analysed the properties of intraepithelial lymphocytes of small intestine (SI-IEL) in KN6-transgenic (Tg) mice expressing cDNA of T-cell receptor (TCR)-gammadelta specific for the T22b molecule. While most splenic Tg TCR-gammadelta+ cells from KN6-Tg mice with H-2d/d background (Tgd/d mice) were Thy-1+ CD8alpha- CD44dull+ CD45RB+ CD69-, Tg TCR-gammadelta+ cells in SI-IEL (Tg gammadelta-IEL) were heterogeneous in the expression of Thy-1, CD8alpha and CD44 molecules and predominantly CD45RB+ CD69+. Tg gammadelta-IEL exhibited a much reduced proliferative response to the antigen (irradiated H-2b splenocytes) than splenic Tg TCR-gammadelta+ cells; the CD44+ subset, but not the CD44- subset, in Tg gammadelta-IEL responded to the antigen. Furthermore, Tg gammadelta-IEL, but not splenic Tg TCR-gammadelta+ cells, displayed cytolytic activity whether they were prepared from conventional or germ-free KN6-Tg mice. Comparative analysis of young and aged KN6-Tg mice revealed that the proportion of CD44+ cells in Tg gammadelta-IEL increased but the proliferative response of Tg gammadelta-IEL to the antigen attenuated in association with ageing. Moreover, although Tg gammadelta-IEL from Tgb/d mice contained a higher proportion of CD44+ cells than Tgd/d mice, they did not respond to the antigen. These results demonstrate that Tg TCR-gammadelta+ cells lose the ability to recognize the antigen following activation in the intestinal epithelia.
Kawaguchi-Miyashita
M
M
Yakult Central Institute for Microbiological Research, Tokyo, Japan.
Shimada
S
S
Matsuoka
Y
Y
Ohwaki
M
M
Nanno
M
M
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000276:immunology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000032:analysis*; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
D006183:H-2 Antigens; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta