T‐cell populations in the pig intestinal lamina propria: memory cells with unusual phenotypic characteristics

• Published in: Immunology Vol. 96; no. 1; pp. 66 - 73
• Main Authors: Haverson, K, Bailey, M, Stokes, C R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.01.1999; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc; Blackwell Science Inc
• Subjects: AIDS/HIV; Animals; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; CD18 Antigens; CD3 Complex; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Flow Cytometry; Hyaluronan Receptors; Immunologic Memory; Integrin beta1; Intestine, Small - immunology; Leukocyte Common Antigens; Lymphocyte Activation - immunology; Original; Swine - immunology; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology
• ISSN: 0019-2805; 1365-2567
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2567.1999.00658.x

We have previously presented evidence of a highly organized and compartmentalized structure of the small intestinal lamina propria of the pig. In this study, we conducted a detailed analysis of the T‐cell populations found at this site, and compared these T cells with cell populations found in other tissue sites and the periphery. We showed that the CD4+ and CD8+ T‐cell populations found in the pig gut are of memory phenotype, defined by CD45 isoform expression, but show few signs of recent activation. They show a high degree of phenotypic and therefore presumably functional homogeneity. Both CD4‐ and CD8‐positive cells show strong parallels in the patterns of surface molecule expression, suggesting similar pressures on differentiation. The unique combination of surface molecules found on lamina propria T cells is found only infrequently on cells in other lymphoid sites.