Intestinal epithelial cells rosette with sheep red blood cells

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Cell Biology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Epithelial cells line the gastrointestinal tract.
• Red blood cell (RBC) rosettes are used in immunology to identify certain cell types.
• The T11 receptor and surface immunoglobulin are known mediators of cell-cell interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the interaction between colonic epithelial cells and sheep red blood cells (RBC).
• To determine the mechanisms underlying this interaction.
• To assess the utility of sheep RBC rosette formation for isolating intestinal T cells.

Main Methods:

• Incubation of colonic epithelial cells with sheep, bovine, and human RBC.
• Testing the effect of anti-T11 antibody and trypsin on rosette formation.
• Evaluating the role of surface immunoglobulin using specific antibodies.

Main Results:

• A significant percentage (45 +/- 15%) of colonic epithelial cells formed rosettes with sheep RBC.
• This binding was not inhibited by anti-T11 antibody or trypsin treatment.
• Surface immunoglobulin antibodies did not block the sheep RBC interaction.
• Sheep RBC rosettes formed with colonic and jejunal epithelial cells, but not uterine cells.

Conclusions:

• Colonic epithelial cells possess a mechanism for binding sheep RBC independent of T11 receptors and surface immunoglobulin.
• Sheep RBC rosette formation is not a reliable method for quantifying or isolating intestinal mucosal T cells in the presence of epithelial cells.