Cytokine- and Ig-producing cells in mucosal effector tissues : analysis of IL-5- and IFN-γ-producing T cells, T cell receptor expression, and IgA plasma cells from mouse salivary gland-associated tissues

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 148; no. 7; pp. 2030 - 2039
• Main Authors: MEGA, J, MCGHEE, J. R, KIYONO, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD American Association of Immunologists 01.04.1992
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Immunobiology; Lymphoid cells: ontogeny, maturation, markers, receptors, circulation and recirculation; IgA; T cell receptor; Mucosa; Rodentia; Cytokine; Salivary gland; Biosynthesis; B-Lymphocyte; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Interleukin 5; Mononuclear cell; Mouse; T-Lymphocyte; Gamma interferon
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606

The present study has focused on the analysis of cytokine- and Ig-producing mononuclear cells (MC) that reside in the salivary glands and their associated tissues (SGAT) in the oral region. The SGAT are located under the mandibular area and consist of submandibular glands, periglandular lymph nodes, and cervical lymph nodes. MC were isolated from individual SGAT and examined for T cell subsets and TCR expression, in comparison with T cells obtained from other mucosa-associated and systemic tissues. When cytokine production was examined by using IFN- gamma - and IL-5-specific enzyme-linked immunospot assays, the CD3 super(+) CD4 super(+) CD8 super(-) T cells in submandibular glands contained T cells spontaneously producing IFN- gamma and IL-5. The results show that the occurrence of increased numbers of IgA-producing cells is associated with effector tissues that also harbor a high frequency of IL-5-secreting Th2-like cells. Further, submandibular glands and periglandular lymph nodes are IgA effector tissues in the oral cavity, with large numbers of CD3 super(+) CD4 super(+) CD8 super(-) Th2-like T cells and IgA-producing cells.