title: CD161+ T (NT) cells exist predominantly in human intestinal epithelium as well as in liver.
abstract: It has been reported that human CD161 (NKR-P1A)+ T cells are counterparts of murine natural T (NT) cells and predominantly accumulate in the liver. However, NT cells in the human intestine have not been well analysed. The aim of this study was to assess the existence of NT cells in human intestinal epithelium and determine their phenotypical characterization. Intra-epithelial lymphocytes (IEL) were isolated from surgical specimens (jejunum, ileum and colon). The surface phenotype of IEL was analysed using a FACScan and compared with that of mononuclear cells (MNC) from other organs. CD161+ T cells were abundant in human intestinal epithelium as well as the liver. The majority of CD161+ T cells in IEL were CD8+ cells. About 50% of CD161+ T cells in hepatic lymphocytes (HL) expressed CD56, whereas only 14% of CD161+ T cells in IEL expressed CD56. The jejunum showed the greatest abundance of CD161+ T cells among the intestinal regions investigated. These results suggest that CD161+ T (NT) cells predominantly exist in human intestinal epithelium and may play an important role in local immunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Niigata University School of Medicine, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Niigata City, 951-8510 Japan. iiaitss@dia-net.ne.jp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iiai
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hatakeyama
mesh_terms: D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D018959:CD57 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D003106:Colon / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007082:Ileum / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D009928:Organ Specificity; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000032:analysis; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D018959:CD57 Antigens; C527203:KLRB1 protein, human; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D055651:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B; D017452:Receptors, IgG