Negative selection of thymus-dependent CD4+8+ intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes by internal superantigens
Nagasawa, T.; Sano, K.; Ike, F.; Kishimoto, H.; Nakayama, T.; Asano, Y.; Ishikawa, I.; Tada, T.
Cellular Immunology 147(1): 158-166
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0008-8749 PMID: 8462108 DOI: 10.1006/cimm.1993.1056
Accession: 046771202
CD4 and CD8 double-positive (DP) T cells were transiently found in the Peyer's patch of mice 2 to 3 weeks after birth and preceded the appearance of DP intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (iIEL). DP iIEL were detected in euthymic-specific pathogen-free mice, but not in athymic and germ-free mice. The pattern of V beta genes expressed on these DP iIEL was similar to that of CD4 single-positive peripheral T cells, which reflected the negative selection by internal superantigens, M1s, and I-E. CD8 SP T cells did not receive such a strict negative selection with these antigens. DP iIEL expressed a high density of T cell receptor alpha beta and CD3 and responded to immobilized anti-CD3 to undergo blastogenesis and de novo IL2 receptor expression. These results indicate that DP iIEL are mature thymus-dependent T cells immigrated to intraepithelial space via the Peyer's patch in response to intestinal antigenic stimulation.