[Intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes in cirrhosis: experiment with rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the phenotypes of T lymphocytes in the intestinal epithelium in cirrhosis.


METHODS
Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: cirrhosis group (n = 25) undergoing subcutaneous injection of 40% carbon tetrachloride twice a week for 10-12 weeks to establish cirrhosis models, and control group (n = 15). Twelve weeks later the rats were killed with their levers taken out. The T lymphocytes in the intestinal epithelium were isolated and labeled with mouse anti-rat CD3, CD4 and CD8 monoclonal antibody, Flow cytometry was performed.


RESULTS
The number of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes of the cirrhosis group was (3.4 +/- 1.1) x 10(5)/cm, significantly higher than that of the control group [(2.3 +/- 0.5) x 10(5)/cm, P < 0.05]. The proportion of CD3(+) cells of the cirrhosis group were (76 +/- 8)%, not significantly different from that of the control group [(80 +/- 6)%, P > 0.05]. There were no significant different between two group (P > 0.05). The proportion of CD4(+)CD8(+) subpopulation of the cirrhosis group was (6.9 +/- 3.3)%, significantly higher than that of the control group [(3.7 +/- 1.8)%, P < 0.05]. The proportion of CD4(+)CD8(-) subpopulation of the cirrhosis group was (6.9 +/- 3.0)%, significantly higher than that of the control group [(4.4 +/- 1.4)%, P < 0.05].


CONCLUSIONS
There were alterations of the immune barrier function in cirrhosis. The increase of the proportion of CD4(+)CD8(+) subpopulation may be associated with the increases of the number of intestinal bacteria.
Li
Jing
J
Department of Gerontology, General Hospital of Air Force, Beijing 100036, China. lijingzw@sina.com
Cheng
Liu-Fang
LF
Li
Zhen
Z
Cong
Yu-Wen
YW
D000818:Animals; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens