Intraepithelial Lymphocytes Traffic to the Intestine and Enhance Resistance to Toxoplasma gondii Oral Infection

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 162; no. 10; pp. 5846 - 5852
• Main Authors: Buzoni-Gatel, Dominique, Debbabi, Hajer, Moretto, Magali, Dimier-Poisson, Isabelle H, Lepage, Anne C, Bout, Daniel T, Kasper, Lloyd H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Am Assoc Immnol 15.05.1999
• Subjects: Adoptive Transfer; AIDS/HIV; Animals; Antigens, CD - isolation & purification; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - cytology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; Female; Integrin alpha Chains; Integrin alpha4; Intestinal Mucosa - cytology; Intestinal Mucosa - immunology; Lymphocyte Transfusion; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Inbred CBA; Mouth Diseases - immunology; Toxoplasma gondii; Toxoplasmosis, Animal - immunology
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.162.10.5846

Toxoplasma gondii Ag-primed intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) from the mouse intestine have been shown to be protective against an lethal parasite challenge when adoptively transferred into recipient mice. In the present study, we observed that Ag-primed IEL traffic to the intestine of naive mice following i.v. administration. Primed and CD8beta+ IEL were the most efficient cells at homing to the host organ. In congenic mice, IEL migrated from intestine within several hours posttransfer. On Ag reexposure, the primed IEL return to the intestine where they enhance resistance as determined by reduction in the number of brain cysts. Treatment of recipient mice with anti-alpha4 and anti-alphaE Abs partially inhibited IEL intestinal homing. The Ab treatment dramatically impaired resistance to a subsequent oral infection. These finding indicate that lymphocyte homing is an important parameter in establishing long term immunity to recurrent infection with this parasite.