Differential production of intracellular gamma interferon in αβ and γδ T-cell subpopulations in response to peritonitis

Abstract

Flow cytometry was used to measure T-cell intracellular gamma interferon and surface interleukin 2 receptor expression in response to peritonitis in rats. Interleukin 2 receptor expression levels were similar in the two T- cell subsets, but gamma interferon production was increased fivefold in γδ T cells compared with production in αβ T cells. Our results provide further evidence of an early and vigorous γδ T-cell response to bacterial infection.