Intraepithelial lymphocytes of human gut: isolation, characterisation and study of natural killer activity.

Abstract

SUMMARY A method using a mechanical procedure for isolation of lymphocytes from the epithelium of human intestinal mucosa allows the study of some of their characteristics and functions. Most of the isolated cells are of the T lineage (E+ and T3+) and express the phenotype associated with cytotoxic-suppressor T cells (T8

IL-15 triggers an antiapoptotic pathway in human intraepithelial lymphocytes that is a potential new target in celiac disease–associated inflammation and lymphomagenesis

“…IELs and LPLs were isolated as described previously (13,55) and cultured in RPMI with 10% AB human serum supplemented with 1% sodium pyruvate, 1% nonessential amino acids, 1% HEPES buffer, 40 μg/ml gentamicin, and 5 × 10 -5 M β-mercaptoethanol (Invitrogen). CD103 + sCD3 -IEL lines were derived from duodenal biopsies from RCDII patients as described previously (6) in medium containing 20 ng/ml human IL-15 (R&D Systems).…”

The biology and pathobiology of the intestinal intraepithelial lymphocyte: A review of the literature

“…On morphological grounds IEL are divided into two distinct subpopulations:(1) large-sized lymphocytes containing cytoplasmic basophilic granules (granulated intraepithelial lymphocyte; GIEL) and (2) densely nucleated smaller sized lymphocytes without these granules (non-granulated intraepithelial /ymphocyte; NGIEL). These subpopulations have been reported in man (15), rodents (1,21), rabbits (20) and pigs (66). Because the granules of GIEL in rodents resemble those of mucosal mast cells electronmicroscopically, it has been proposed that GIEL are mucosal mast cell precursors (28,29).…”

“…Thorough studies of the IEL population have become possible after the development of proper isolation procedures (7,15,17,19,27), by which IEL can be separated from lamina propria cells. On morphological grounds IEL are divided into two distinct subpopulations:(1) large-sized lymphocytes containing cytoplasmic basophilic granules (granulated intraepithelial lymphocyte; GIEL) and (2) densely nucleated smaller sized lymphocytes without these granules (non-granulated intraepithelial /ymphocyte; NGIEL).…”

Colon irrigation causes lymphocyte movement from gut-associated lymphatic tissues to peripheral blood

“…It was recently reported that the intestine is a major site of extrathymic T cell differentiation (4,6,7). Many active and inactive lymphocytes are produced from gut-associated lymphatic tissues (GALT) such as Peyer's patches (16).…”