Abstract
Abstract It is known that the composition of intraepithelial T lymphocyte (IEL) differs between small and large intestines, but the mechanism underlying that difference remains obscure. Here, we show that sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) plays a key role in regulating intestinal IEL trafficking into the small and large intestines. High levels of type 1 S1P receptor (S1P1) expression was noted on naïve IELs expressing CD4 or CD8αβ, which leads to their preferential migration into the large intestine. In contrast, recent thymic emigrants (RTEs), double-positive thymocytes, and double-negative thymic T cell-committed precursors use S1P-independent trafficking pathway into the intestine. The former two populations exclusively migrate into the small intestine, while the latter double-negative thymic T cell-committed precursors migrate into both the small and large intestines. Hence, down-regulation of S1P1 expression inhibited naïve IEL migration into the intestines but did not affect the migration of thymic IEL precursors. These data are the first to demonstrate that a lipid-mediated system determines whether IELs migrate to the small or large intestine.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call