Cytotoxic reactivity of gut lamina propria CD4(+) alpha beta T cells in SCID mice, with colitis

Polyclonal, mucosa-seeking memory/effector CD4(+) T cells containing a large fraction of blasts activated in situ accumulate in the gut lamina propria of severe-combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice developing colitis after CD4(+) T cell transplantation. CD4(+) T cells isolated from different repopulated lymphoid tissues of transplanted SCID mice proliferate in vitro in the presence of interleukin (IL)-2 + IL-7. CD3 ligation enhances this cytokine-supported proliferation in CD4(+) T cells from the spleen and the mesenteric lymph node of transplanted SCID mice; CD3 ligation suppresses the cytokine-supported proliferation in CD4(+) T cells from the gut lamina propria in a cell density- and dose-dependent manner. Almost all CD4(+) T cells from repopulated lymphoid tissues of trans planted SCID mice express CD95 (Fas) on the cell surface, and a large fraction of CD4(+) T cells from the gut lamina propria of transplanted SCID mice express the Fas ligand on the surface. Gut lamina propria CD4(+) T cells show Fas-dependent cytotoxicity. A large fraction of gut lamina propria CD4(+) T cells that infiltrate the inflamed colon in transplanted SCID mice are activated in situ and many CD4(+) T cells are apoptotic. Hence, a large fraction of colitis-inducing CD4(+) T cells undergo activation-induced cell death in situ and can damage other cells through Fas-dependent cytotoxicity.