Human colonic intra-epithelial lymphocytes are suppressor cells
HOANG P., DALTON HR., JEWELL DP.
SUMMARY Human colonic intra-epithelial lymphocytes (IEL) suppress the proliferation of autologous lamina propria lymphocytes, but not aulologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells, when stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin. This suppressor function is mediated by a CD8-depcndent soluble factor and is not related to the expression of the γø T cell receptor. These findings may be relevant to the induction of mucosal tolerance. However, there is no defect in suppressor activity of colonic IEL in inflammatory bowel disease.