Development of CD8α/β+ TCRαβ intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes in athymic nu/nu mice and participation in regional immune responses

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Abstract
On the basis of the CD8 coreceptor expression, T‐cell receptor (TCR)αβ‐bearing intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (i‐IEL) segregate into two populations. The CD8αα+ TCRαβ i‐IEL develop thymus independently, whereas the CD8αβ+ TCRαβ i‐IEL are generally considered to be thymus dependent. Flow cytometry analysis revealed a distinct population of CD8αβ+ TCRαβ i‐IEL in individual athymic nu/nu mice. The i‐IEL encompassing CD8αβ+ TCRαβ cells expressed potent cytolytic and interferon‐γ‐producing activities. These findings demonstrate that CD8αβ+ TCRαβ i‐IEL can develop in nu/nu mice independently from a functional thymus and suggest that these cells, directly or indirectly, perform biological functions in the gut.