F M Thompson1, G Mayrhofer, A G Cummins. 1. Gastroenterology Unit, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville South, South Australia, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Intestinal crypt hyperplasia is associated with local T-cell activation in both clinical and experimental examples of immunologically mediated enteropathy. This suggests that T cell-derived factors may be trophic for epithelial proliferation in the intestine postnatally. The purpose of this study was to investigate T-cell activity during weaning in the rat and to investigate immune dependence of intestinal growth on T-cell activation. METHODS: The expression of interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) by mesenteric lymph node T cells was investigated from days 14 to 160 of life. Rats were treated with monoclonal antibodies against the IL-2R that were nonblocking (control) or blocking (experimental) from day 7, and intestinal growth was assessed at days 19, 25, and 29 of life. RESULTS: The mean +/- SEM of T cells expressing the IL-2R during weaning (days 15-28) was 6.1% +/- 0.3% compared with 3.3% +/- 0.3% at other ages (P < 0.001). The small intestine in rats treated with blocking antibody had reduced crypt length and mitotic count compared with control animals. CONCLUSIONS: Weaning is associated with activation of T cells and blockade of the IL-2R reduces intestinal growth.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Intestinal crypt hyperplasia is associated with local T-cell activation in both clinical and experimental examples of immunologically mediated enteropathy. This suggests that T cell-derived factors may be trophic for epithelial proliferation in the intestine postnatally. The purpose of this study was to investigate T-cell activity during weaning in the rat and to investigate immune dependence of intestinal growth on T-cell activation. METHODS: The expression of interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) by mesenteric lymph node T cells was investigated from days 14 to 160 of life. Rats were treated with monoclonal antibodies against the IL-2R that were nonblocking (control) or blocking (experimental) from day 7, and intestinal growth was assessed at days 19, 25, and 29 of life. RESULTS: The mean +/- SEM of T cells expressing the IL-2R during weaning (days 15-28) was 6.1% +/- 0.3% compared with 3.3% +/- 0.3% at other ages (P < 0.001). The small intestine in rats treated with blocking antibody had reduced crypt length and mitotic count compared with control animals. CONCLUSIONS: Weaning is associated with activation of T cells and blockade of the IL-2R reduces intestinal growth.
Authors: C Schaeffer; M Diab-Assef; M Plateroti; F Laurent-Huck; J M Reimund; M Kedinger; C Foltzer-Jourdainne Journal: Gut Date: 2000-08 Impact factor: 23.059