Colonic epithelial cell mediated suppression of CD4 T cell activation.
OBJECTIVE
As the first point of contact with enteric antigens, intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) may be key in regulating mucosal immune responses. We determined therefore if murine colonic epithelial cells (CEC) have tolerogenic or activating effects on CD4 T cells.


METHODS
Using a novel CEC, macrophages, and CD4 T cell coculture system, mitogen and antigen specific responses of naïve and antigen primed CD4 T cells were assessed.


RESULTS
Although a proportion of CEC express the costimulatory molecules B7.1, B7.2, CD40, and CD54, they were unable to promote mitogen or antigen driven activation of CD4 T cells, even in the presence of exogenous costimulatory signals. CD4 T cells cocultured with CEC were CD25lo and CD45RBlo and remained in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. CEC were also able to prevent CD4 T cell activation by professional antigen presenting cells. CEC mediated suppression of T cell activation was cell contact dependent and transforming growth factor beta independent.


CONCLUSIONS
These observations suggest that CEC contribute to the maintenance of T cell tolerance in the gut by preventing inappropriate activation of CD4 T cells.
Cruickshank
S M
SM
School of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. bmbsmc@bmb.leeds.ac.uk
McVay
L D
LD
Baumgart
D C
DC
Felsburg
P J
PJ
Carding
S R
SR
D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017635:Clonal Anergy / Q000276:immunology; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003106:Colon / Q000276:immunology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000939:Epitopes