IFN-gamma influences the migration of thoracic duct B and T lymphocyte subsets in vivo. Random increase in disappearance from the blood and differential decrease in reappearance in the lymph.

Thoracic duct lymphocytes (TDL) continuously patrol through the body, facilitating immune responses at most sites. IFN-gamma might regulate immune responses by influencing the migration of TDL. Therefore, it was investigated in vivo whether IFN-gamma affects the migration of thoracic duct B, T, CD4+, and CD8+ lymphocytes from blood to lymph. Labeled TDL were injected i.v. into rats continuously receiving IFN-gamma via a central venous catheter. The numbers of B, T, CD4+, and CD8+ lymphocytes were determined in blood and thoracic duct lymph for 120 h. IFN-gamma increased the disappearance of TDL from the blood to a similar extent in all subsets. In contrast, the reappearance of B and T lymphocyte subsets in the lymph was decreased: B lymphocytes were affected significantly more than T lymphocytes, whereas CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes were affected to a similar extent. Our study suggests that differential retention within the tissue rather than preferential immigration into the tissue creates a microenvironment with a distinct composition of lymphocyte subsets.