CD8+CD103+ T cells analogous to intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes infiltrate the pancreas in chronic pancreatitis

• Published in: The American journal of gastroenterology Vol. 93; no. 11; pp. 2141 - 2147
• Main Authors: Ebert, Matthias P.A., Ademmer, Karin, Müller-Ostermeyer, Frauke, Friess, Helmut, Büchler, Markus W., Schubert, Walter, Malfertheiner, Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 1998
• ISSN: 0002-9270; 1572-0241
• DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9270(98)00491-2

Objective: Chronic pancreatitis is a painful chronic inflammatory disease of the exocrine pancreas that is associated with the replacement of functional parenchyma by extended fibrosis and with a massive infiltration of T lymphocytes. However, to date further characterization of infiltrating T cells in chronic pancreatitis has not been undertaken. Methods: Using the novel method of multiepitope imaging with fluorochrome-tagged specific monoclonal antibodies, which allows the simultaneous localization and characterization of T cells in tissues, we analyzed the distribution and phenotypes of T cells infiltrating the pancreas in chronic pancreatitis. Results: The mean CD4:CD8 ratio in 10 cases of chronic pancreatitis was 2.4:1. In order of decreasing frequency, the following markers were observed: CD45RO, CD18, TCRγδ, and CD103. The lymphocytes, especially of the CD4+ subset, were found mainly in the fibrous stroma, but T cells were also observed periductally. A T-cell subset bearing the phenotype CD8+CD103+, analogous to intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes, was found intracalating between the cells of the ductal epithelium. Conclusions: Phenotyping of the T lymphocytes in chronic pancreatitis supports the concept of the involvement of cell-mediated cytotoxicity in the pathogenesis of this disease. In addition, intraepithelial lymphocytes were found interspersed between the ductal epithelial cells, pointing to a role of this T-cell subset as a first-line defense against deleterious epithelial events in chronic pancreatitis.