Abstract
The intestinal mucosa is suggested to support extrathymic T cell development, particularly for T cell receptor (TCR)-gammadelta intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs). TCR-gammadelta cell development requires interleukin (IL)-7; IL-7(-/)- or IL-7 receptor(-/)- mice lack TCR-gammadelta cells. Using the intestinal fatty acid binding protein (iFABP) promoter, we reinstated expression of IL-7 to mature enterocytes of IL-7(-/)- mice (iFABP-IL7). In iFABP-IL7 mice, TCR-gammadelta IELs were restored, as were cryptopatches and Peyer's patches. TCR-gammadelta cells remained absent from all other tissues. Likewise, T cell development in thymus and B cell maturation in the bone marrow and spleen retained the IL-7(-/)- phenotype. Thus, IL-7 expression by enterocytes was sufficient for extrathymic development of TCR-gammadelta cells in situ within the intestinal epithelium and was crucial for organization of mucosal lymphoid tissue.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Carrier Proteins / genetics
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Dendritic Cells / immunology
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Enterocytes / immunology*
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Epidermal Cells
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Epidermis / immunology
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Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 7
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Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins
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Germinal Center / cytology
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Interleukin-7 / genetics
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Interleukin-7 / immunology*
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Intestine, Small / cytology
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Intestine, Small / immunology*
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Mice
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Mice, Transgenic
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Myelin P2 Protein / genetics
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Neoplasm Proteins*
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Nerve Tissue Proteins*
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Peyer's Patches / cytology
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Peyer's Patches / immunology*
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta*
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / immunology
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T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
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Tissue Distribution
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Transgenes
Substances
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Carrier Proteins
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Fabp5 protein, mouse
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Fabp7 protein, mouse
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Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 7
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Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins
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Interleukin-7
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Myelin P2 Protein
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Neoplasm Proteins
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins