Development of T cell lineages in rat lacrimal glands.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine T cell development in rat lacrimal glands, determine whether the thymus is the source of immature T cells in this tissue and compare lacrimal gland T lymphocytes with other T cell subpopulations.


METHODS
Mononuclear cells were isolated from lacrimal glands of normal or thymectomized female Fischer 344 rats and stained for flow cytometric analysis.


RESULTS
The lacrimal gland T lymphocyte population included large percentages of cells with an activated phenotype and also subpopulations of immature, naive and memory T cells. The numbers of immature (Thy-1(+)) lacrimal gland T cells were unchanged following short-term adult thymectomy. In comparison, spleen had large percentages of naive T cells, only a small subpopulation of activated T cells, and similar percentages of immature (Thy-1(+)) T cells, which were nearly eliminated after thymectomy. Lacrimal gland T cells had small subpopulations of TCRgammadelta(+) and CD8alphaalpha( +) T cells, a large subpopulation of NKT cells and many integrin alphaEbeta7( +) T cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Lacrimal gland T cells are composed of a variety of subpopulations whose composition is distinct from splenocytes. The marked reduction of immature splenic T cell percentages eleven days after adult thymectomy indicates that these cells were mostly derived from thymic precursors. In contrast, the unchanged percentages of immature lacrimal gland T cells following thymectomy indicate that they may have an extrathymic source. These studies provide a foundation for further investigation into the cellular basis of lacrimal gland immunobiology.
O'Sullivan
N L
NL
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA. N.O'Sullivan@wayne.edu
Skandera
C A
CA
Montgomery
P C
PC
D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000276:immunology*; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D013934:Thymectomy; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens; D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases; C090163:Art2b protein, rat; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens