T cell receptor Vβ expression by mucosal T cells

Abstract

Immunohistochemistry with monoclonal antibodies to the T cell receptor Vβ regions 5, 6, 8 and 12 was used to determine whether normal intestinal lymphocytes that are potentially exposed to many bacterially derived superantigens show any preferential expression of particular Vβ regions compared with the blood. No difference between Vβ expression in the mucosa and the blood was observed, suggesting that they share a common pool of αβ T cells and that there is no expansion of αβ T cells in response to bacterial 'superantigens' in the gut. The T cell receptor Vβ expressed by the activated T cells in the lamina propria of bowel from patients with Crohn's disease was also studied. There was no increase in Vβ8 expression in these cells, suggesting that the increase in Vβ8 observed in the blood and mesenteric nodes of patients with Crohn's disease is not of primary importance in the aetiology of the disease. Finally, Vβ expression by mucosal T cells in coeliac disease was studied. There was no difference in Vβ use by T cells in coeliac disease and those in the blood and normal jejunum.