Evidence for regulation of human colonic mucosal immunoglobulin secretion by intestinal lymphoid cells

• Published in: Journal of clinical & laboratory immunology Vol. 22; no. 1; p. 7
• Main Authors: Danis, V A, Heatley, R V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotland 01-01-1987
• Subjects: Biopsy; Cells, Cultured; Colon - immunology; Colonic Diseases - immunology; Humans; Immunoglobulins - biosynthesis; Intestinal Mucosa - immunology; Lymphocytes - immunology; Rectum - immunology; Rosette Formation; T-Lymphocytes - immunology
• ISSN: 0141-2760

In vitro immunoglobulin secretion has been studied using isolated colonic mucosal lymphoid cell populations obtained from 41 patients with non-inflammatory intestinal disease. Cell fractions were separated into intra-epithelial and lamina propria-enriched populations. The secretion of immunoglobulins by mucosal cells appeared to be independent of mitogen stimulation. When intra-epithelial lymphocyte preparations were co-cultured with autologous lamina propria lymphocytes, the secretion of IgM was significantly depressed but that of IgA and IgG was preserved. Co-cultured of mucosal cells with autologous peripheral blood lymphocytes resulted in suppression of pokeweed mitogen stimulated and unstimulated immunoglobulin secretion. Lamina propria T cells were shown to provide helper function for the in vitro secretion of IgA and IgM but not IgG, by autologous peripheral blood B cells. Immunoglobulin secretion by lamina propria lymphocytes was shown to be partly dependent on the concentration of E-rosette forming cells. These experiments demonstrate that human colonic mucosal lymphoid cells contain specific populations of helper and suppressor cells which selectively control intestinal immunoglobulin secretion.