Activation of a unique population of CD8(+) T cells by intestinal epithelial cells

Matthieu Allez1, Jens Brimnes, Ling Shao

  • 1Immunobiology Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA.

Intestinal epithelial cells may play a role in the regulation of immune responses toward luminal antigens. We show that a subset of CD8(+) T cells undergoes oligoclonal expansion in the intestinal mucosa, probably through interaction with a unique complex expressed on epithelial cells, formed by a CEA subfamily member (gp180) and CD1d. This subset, which is regulatory in vitro, may play a role in the control of intestinal immune responses toward luminal antigens. A lack of expansion of these CD8(+) regulatory T cells, probably related to the defective expression of the gp180/CD1d complex, is observed in inflammatory bowel disease.

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