Logo image
Changes in human mucosal gamma delta T cell repertoire and function associated with the disease process in inflammatory bowel disease
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Changes in human mucosal gamma delta T cell repertoire and function associated with the disease process in inflammatory bowel disease

L. D. McVay, B. Li, R. Biancaniello, M. A. Creighton, D. Bachwich, G. Lichtenstein, J. L. Rombeau and S. R. Carding
Molecular medicine (Cambridge, Mass.), v 3(3)
01 Mar 1997
PMID: 9100225
url
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03401672View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although gamma delta T cells are a major component of the human intestinal mucosa, it is not clear what role they play in mucosal immunity or if they are involved in the disease process of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Flow cytometry and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays were used to identify quantitative and qualitative changes in the repertoire of gamma delta T cells present in surgical and/or biopsy samples or normal and inflamed colon from individual patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD). Cytokine production and the ability to adhere to and interact with colonic fibroblasts were used to compare the functional properties of gamma delta T cells isolated from the normal and diseased colonic mucosa. RESULTS: Increased numbers of gamma delta T cells localized in areas of inflammation and tissue injury were found in the majority of patients, irrespective of the type of IBD present. This expansion was attributable to an increase in V delta 1+ cells expressing a V delta 1-(D delta 3)-J delta 1-encoded T cell receptor and was seen in patients with severe disease as well as those with newly diagnosed or less severe forms of IBD. Among T cells present in the inflamed mucosa of patients with CD, gamma delta T cells, particularly V delta 1+ cells, were a major source of the proinflammatory cytokine interferon-gamma and could interact with colonic fibroblasts. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that the chronic inflammatory immune response characteristic of IBD is associated with distinct changes in the number, distribution, composition, and function of mucosal gamma delta T cells. Through the production of cytokines and physical interaction with other cells, gamma delta T cells can perform an immunoregulatory function and contribute to the pathophysiology of IBDs.

Metrics

6 Record Views
87 citations in Scopus

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

InCites Highlights

Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:

Web of Science research areas
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cell Biology
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Logo image