| Theme |
Mucosal Immune System of the Digestive Tract -- Recent Topics |
| Title |
The Roles of γΣ( Intestinal Intraepithelial Lymphocytes in Mucosal Immunity |
| Author |
Yasunobu Yoshikai |
Laboratory of Host Defense, Research Institute for Disease Mechanism and Control, Nagoya University School of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] |
Intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes(i-IEL) are located at the basolateral surfaces of i-EC, which are continuously exposed to numerous environmental antigens via the intestinal epithelium. Murine i-IEL comprises an approximately equal frequency of TCR αβ and γ#931; i-IEL.γ#931; i-IEL are known to produce various cytokines upon TCR triggering and play important roles in local IgA responses.γΣ i-IEL alo exhibits non-MHC restricted cytotoxicity via serine esterase-and Fas/Fas-L dependent mechanisms, which provide protection against infected cells, premalignant cells and effete cells. A dominant TCR γ#931; T cell response to infections with various microbial pathogens suggests that at least a significant fraction of γ#931; i-IEL represents a first line of host defense against infections by diverse pathogens. |