Intraepithelial lymphocytes revisited

Intraepithelial Lymphocytes: Scratching the surface

The epithelial surface is the site at which we first encounter pathogens. Two recent advances indicate that intraepithelial lymphocytes use specialized tools to help protect this surface.

Quantitation of intraepithelial lymphocytes in human jejunum.

An estimate of the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes in jejunal villous epithelium can be obtained by differential counting of nuclei in the epithelium. From counts carried out in 160 jejunal biopsies from patients who did not have coeliac disease the normal range has been established as 6-40 intraepithelial lymphocytes per 100 villous epithelial cells. In some biopsies there was a moderate...

Intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes: the plot thickens

O ver the last few years, the characterization of T lyraphocytes within the intestinal epithelium (ilEL) has revealed phenotypic and functional heterogeneity that rivals only that observed within the thymus. Of note in this context is that thymic and intestinal epithdia share the same embryologic origin in that they are both derived from endoderm. Several lines of evidence have led to the concl...

The normal range of duodenal intraepithelial lymphocytes.

BACKGROUND Increased duodenal intraepithelial lymphocytes is a key histological finding in celiac disease. Available studies suggest a wide normal range (10 - 40 intraepithelial lymphocytes /100 epithelial cells, EC). We assessed the normal range of distal duodenal intraepithelial lymphocytes. METHODS Biopsies from the normal-looking distal duodenum from individuals referring for endoscopy fo...

Intraepithelial lymphocytes of the small intestine.