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Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Intravital Imaging of Intraepithelial Lymphocytes in Murine Small Intestine
Published on: June 24, 2019
Intestinal lamina propria TcRgammadelta+ lymphocytes selectively express IL-10 and IL-17
K E Asigbetse1, P A Eigenmann, C P Frossard
1Department of Paediatrics, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Background:
The characteristics and roles of gut lymphocytes have been only partly elucidated, in particular with regard to activation patterns.
Objectives:
To characterize lymphocytes from various parts of the gut and examine their activation pattern as a network.
Methods:
Lymphocytes were isolated from the epithelium, the lamina propria, Peyer's patches, mesenteric lymph nodes, the spleen, and peripheral blood of naive mice. They were then characterized for T cell phenotype, T cell receptors (TcRs), activation markers, and cytokine production.
Results:
The results showed a gradient of cells with an increasing proportion of TcRgammadelta+, CD8alphaalpha+ cells towards the gut lumen, with the highest number found in intraepithelial lymphocytes. These cells, together with lamina propria lymphocytes (LPLs) were also characterized by a memory-like phenotype (CD25- CD45RB(low) and CD44(high)) and CD69 expression. CD8+ TcRgammadelta+ LPLs produced IL-10 and IL-17, while TcRalphabeta+ LPLs were FoxP3 positive.
Conclusions:
Gut lymphocytes express various receptors and cytokines according to their location. These specific features suggest a differential function for gut lymphocytes depending on their location.
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