Dietary nucleotides increase the proportion of a TCR gammadelta+ subset of intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) and IL-7 production by intestinal epithelial cells (IEC); implications for modification of cellular and molecular cross-talk between IEL and IEC by dietary nucleotides

Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2000 Jul;64(7):1459-65. doi: 10.1271/bbb.64.1459.

Abstract

We have investigated the effects of dietary nucleotides on intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) and intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) in weanling mice. The proportion of T-cell receptor (TCR) gammadelta+ IEL in BALB/c mice fed a diet supplemented with nucleotides (NT(+) diet) was significantly higher than that in mice fed the nucleotide-free diet, while the proportion of TCR alphabeta+ IEL in NT(+) diet-fed mice was significantly decreased. The change of the TCR alphabeta+/TCR gammadelta+ ratio was mainly observed in a CD8 alphaalpha+ subset of IEL. IEC from NT(+) diet-fed mice produced a higher level of IL-7, which is important in the development of TCR gammadelta+ IEL, than those from control diet-fed mice. The expression levels of IL-7 and IL-2 receptors on IEL were not different between the two dietary groups. Our findings suggest that the increased population of a TCR gammadelta+ IEL subset by feeding nucleotides may be caused by the increased production of IL-7 by IEC.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cytidine Monophosphate / metabolism*
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Female
  • Guanosine Monophosphate / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Inosine Monophosphate / metabolism*
  • Interleukin-7 / biosynthesis*
  • Intestinal Mucosa / cytology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2 / biosynthesis
  • Receptors, Interleukin-7 / biosynthesis
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / classification
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / cytology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism*
  • Uridine Monophosphate / metabolism*

Substances

  • Interleukin-7
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2
  • Receptors, Interleukin-7
  • Inosine Monophosphate
  • Guanosine Monophosphate
  • Uridine Monophosphate
  • Cytidine Monophosphate