Although T cells bearing yv T-cell receptors have long been known to be present in the epithelial lining of many organs, their specificity and function remain elusive. In the present study, we examined the intestinal epithelia of T-cell-receptor mutant mice, which were deficient in either yS T cells or ca3 T cells, and of normal littermates. The absence of yS T cells was associated with a reduction in epithelial cell turnover and a downregulation of the expression of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules. No such effects were observed in a38 T-cell-deficient mice. These findings indicate that intraepithelial yeS T cells regulate the generation and differentiation of intestinal epithelial cells.

No abstract

Radio frequency (RF) plasma in water was used for the degradation of methylene blue. The fraction of decomposition of methylene blue and the intensity of the spectral line from OH radical increased with RF power. RF plasma in water also produced hydrogen peroxide. The density of hydrogen peroxide increased with RF power and exposure time. When pure water (300 mL) is exposed to plasma at 310 W for 15 min, density of hydrogen peroxide reaches to 120 mg/L. Methylene blue after exposed to plasma degraded gradually for three weeks. This degradation may be due to chemical processes via hydrogen peroxide and tungsten. The comparison between the experimental and calculated spectral lines of OH radical (A-X) shows that the temperature of the radical is around 3,500 K. Electron density is evaluated to be^3.5 9 10 20 m -3 from the stark broadening of the H b line.

No abstract

A possible contribution of the intestinal epithelium to the immune defense system was studied by electron microscopy in the rat small intestine. The cells of the immune system (CIS) such as lymphocytes, eosinophils and macrophages penetrate the basal lamina into the epithelium and make close relationships with the absorptive cells. At the points of close apposition, the two cell membranes run parallel at a regular distance of about 20 nm. On the other hand, about 5% of the intestinal absorptive cells also penetrate the basal lamina into the lamina propria via their basal protrusions and show a similar close association with CIS. The basal protrusions contain many microfilaments; this indicates that they are structures with a definite function rather than a simple hernia. These findings are discussed with respect to the transport of antigenic molecules and of intercellular communication between CIS and the intestinal epithelium.