Class II MHC antigens in the rat digestive system. Normal distribution and induced expression after interferon-gamma treatment in vivo.

The normal and interferon-gamma induced expression of class II MHC antigens was investigated immunohistologically in the digestive system of LEW rats. In the normal state class II molecules were present in interstitial dendritic cells, B lymphocytes and epithelial cells. Epithelial class II expression was restricted to enterocytes in certain portions of the small intestine and to some duct epithelia in salivary glands. After continuous intravenous infusion of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) for 3 days, class II MHC antigens were induced in large vessel endothelium and in the surface epithelia of the tongue, oesophagus and proventricle. In the gastric glands class II molecules appeared in mucous neck cells and in parietal cells, while adjacent mucous surface cells and chief cells did not acquire class II reactivity. All enterocytes, including the previously negative colonic epithelium, were induced to express class II antigens. In the salivary glands class II antigens appeared in all duct epithelia. Serous acinar cells were induced in the parotids, but in the submandibular glands and in the pancreas the serous gland epithelium stayed negative. Our study thus shows that the effects of IFN-gamma on class II MHC antigen expression in vivo depend on the differentiation pathway of the individual cell. The normal distribution in rats suggest that class II MHC antigens may play a role in peptide transport across specialized epithelia. It remains to be determined whether such a function is enhanced after IFN treatment.