Abstract
The aim of the present report was to study in growing Wistar rats the development of immunocompetent cells in the bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT). We found at day 4 postpartum, a high number of TCRγ/δ+ T cells and very few CD8α+, CD8β+, CD5+, TCRα/β+ T cells in BALT. The latter cells and CD4+ T cells increase with age. Even though T cells expressing TCRγ/δ outnumber those expressing TCRα/β early in development, until 45 days of age, α/β+ predominate over γ/δ+ T cells only in adult rats (60 days of age). Moreover, a predominance of suppressor/cytotoxic T cells over T-helper cells was found in 60 days old rats. Surprisingly, more CD8α+ than CD8β+ T cells in BALT are observed. The number of IgA+ B and CD4+ T cells found in the BALT increases with age. The early appearance — 4 days of age — of all T-cell phenotypes in BALT especially of γ/δ+ T cells may imply a benefit to respond to inhaled antigen soon after birth.
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