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Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Isolation and Flow Cytometric Characterization of Murine Small Intestinal Lymphocytes

Isolation and Flow Cytometric Characterization of Murine Small Intestinal Lymphocytes

Published on: May 8, 2016

Normal human intestinal B lymphocytes. Increased activation compared with peripheral blood.

M G Peters¹, H Secrist, K R Anders

¹Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110.

The Journal of Clinical Investigation

|June 1, 1989

Summary

Human intestinal immune cells, particularly B cells, are highly activated in vivo, secreting more antibodies, especially IgA, compared to peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Large intestine B cells show greater activation and IgA secretion than small intestine B cells.

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Area of Science:

Immunology
Gastroenterology
Cell Biology

Background:

Intestinal mononuclear cells (IMCs) play a crucial role in mucosal immunity.
Understanding the activation state of IMCs is vital for comprehending gut defense mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the in vivo activation status of normal human intestinal mononuclear cells.
To compare the activation and antibody secretion of intestinal B cells with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).

Main Methods:

Isolation and analysis of mononuclear cells from the human intestine (small and large bowel) and peripheral blood.
Flow cytometry to assess cell surface activation antigens on B and T lymphocytes.
Quantification of immunoglobulin (Ig) secreting cells, with a focus on IgA.

Main Results:

Freshly isolated IMCs exhibited significantly higher expression of activation antigens on B and T lymphocytes compared to PBMC.
Intestinal mononuclear cells contained substantial numbers of spontaneous immunoglobulin-secreting cells, including CD5-positive B cells producing IgA.
Cells from the large intestine consistently showed higher numbers of IgA-secreting cells than those from the small intestine.

Conclusions:

Intestinal B cells are markedly activated in vivo, correlating with increased spontaneous antibody secretion.
B cells from the large intestine are more activated and secrete more IgA than those from the small intestine.
The heightened activation of the intestinal lamina propria lymphoid compartment suggests its critical role in mucosal defense.