Lymphocytes bearing the γδ T-cell receptor in normal human intestine and celiac disease

Abstract

Monoclonal antibodies to T-cell receptors were used to investigate the prevalence of the two distinct T-cell subpopulations (TCR αβ + and TCR γδ + cells) in the intesstinal mucosa of children with celiac disease (gluten-sensitive enteropathy) as compared with normal intestinal mucosa. TCR ggδ + cells were rarely identified in the epithelium of human fetal or normal postnatal intestine and few were present in the lamina propria, whereas the number and distribution of TCR αβ + cells closely resembled that of CD3 + cells. Compared with normal intestine, a significant increase in the number of CD3 +, CD8 +, TCR αβ +, and TCR γδ + intraepithelial lymphocytes was present in celiac disease. Although the mucosal TCR γδ + cells were less numerous than TCR αβ + cells in celiac disease, there was a marked increase in the number of TCR γδ + cells as compared with controls. The ligand recognized by the γδ T-cell receptor and the function of these cells have not been determined; however, these findings suggest a possible role for TCR γδ + lymphocytes in mucosal immune responses and tissue injury as seen in celiac disease.