In:
The Journal of Immunology, The American Association of Immunologists, Vol. 172, No. 7 ( 2004-04-01), p. 4176-4183
Abstract:
TCRαβ CD8αα intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) represent an enigmatic subset of T cells, particularly, in regard to their potential functions and the apparent persistence of cells expressing self-specific TCR. We have used mice that are transgenic for the TCRαβ specific for the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV)-derived peptide gp33, and TCRαβ-transgenic mice that coexpress the gp33 Ag ubiquitously, to analyze the functional properties of TCRαβ CD8αα IEL in the presence, or absence, of their specific MHC-restricted Ag, and to assess the impact of molecular mimicry during a potent LCMV infection on potentially self-reactive TCRαβ CD8αα IEL. In this study, we show that the presence of the specific self-Ag results in reduced expression of IL-2, IFN-γ, and IL-10 by resident TCRαβ CD8αα IEL while expression of mRNA for TGFβ is not affected. We further demonstrate that despite their secluded location in the epithelium, TCRαβ CD8αα IEL are activated after infection of the intestinal mucosa with LCMV. Importantly, LCMV-induced activation of self-specific TCRαβ CD8αα IEL does not reverse their tolerance as no cytotoxic activity or up-regulated expression of proinflammatory cytokines is detected and no overt signs of autoimmunity are seen. Taken together, these results are in support of an immunoregulatory role for self-specific TCRαβ CD8αα in the intestinal mucosa and clearly speak against an involvement of this cell subset in inflammatory reactions and tissue destruction.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0022-1767
,
1550-6606
DOI:
10.4049/jimmunol.172.7.4176
Language:
English
Publisher:
The American Association of Immunologists
Publication Date:
2004
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1475085-5
Bookmarklink