Mouse intestinal epithelial cells express the self superantigen Mis1

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Abstract
In previous studies, we demonstrated that intestinal epithelial cells of the mouse small intestine could present exogenous antigen to specific CD4+ T cell hybridomas. We now report on the abililty of normal enterocytes to present the self superantigen M1sla. Enterocytes from M1sla but not from M1slb strains stimulated interleukin-2 production through aVβ6+ T cell hybridoma specific for M1sla determinants. Antibody inhibition experiments showed that enterocytes presented M is determinants via a major histocompatibility complex class II-dependent mechanism. Furthermore, the ability of enterocytes to activate Vβ6+ M1sla-specific T cells was inhibited by monoclonal antibodies against the Orf protein encoded by an Mtv-7 provirus which is associated with M1sla expression. These findings provide evidence for the first time that M is determinants are expressed on normal enterocytes and support the theory of a possible role of these cells in extrathymic selection of T cell receptor Vβ repertoire of intraepithelial T lymphocytes.

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