Lymphokine production by mitogen and antigen activated mouse intraepithelial lymphocytes

Although most intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) in mouse small intestine bear surface markers classically associated with T lymphocytes, the T-cell nature of these cells remains controversial. In the present study IEL from normal mice, or from mice infected with the gut nematode Trichinella spiralis, were therefore tested for their ability to produce T-cell-derived lymphokines in response to in vitro stimulation with concanavalin A (Con A) or with specific worm antigens. The data show that Con A-stimulated IEL produce minimal amounts of IL-2, and intermediate levels of IFN-gamma and IL-3 in comparison to the levels produced by spleen T cells. The FDC-P2 cell line, which proliferates in response to both IL-3 and GM-CSF, was identified as the most sensitive and reproducible indicator of lymphokine activity in supernatants from mitogen-stimulated IEL from normal mice. IEL isolated from mice infected with T. spiralis also produced high levels of FDC-P2 growth factors when challenged in vitro with Trichinella-derived antigens; however, normal IEL did not respond to this stimulus. The data thus provide evidence that antigen-sensitive T cells can arise in (or migrate to) the gut epithelium during gut infection.