Complexity of the mouse gut T cell immune system: Identification of two distinct natural killer T cell intraepithelial lineages

Abstract

Gut thymo-dependent (CD8α⁺β⁺ or CD4⁺) or -independent (CD8α⁺β⁻) intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) mediate cytotoxicity following T cell receptor (TCR)-CD3 signaling, but only TCRγδ⁺ and αβ⁺ thymo-independent IEL show cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity types. Moreover, TCRαβ⁺ and γδ⁺ thymo-independent IEL express NK receptors, and may therefore be referred to as NK-TIEL. NK-TIEL cytotoxicity is mediated through perforin, Fas, or both pathways. In contrast to that of other NK cells, this cytotoxicity is not negatively regulated by signals delivered through the recognition of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules. Thus, gut IEL include T cell subsets with unique specificities and functions, ontogenically distinct from other T cell lineages, which may increase the antigenic repertoire diversity of the immune system participating in the defense of the epithelial barrier.