CD8(+) recent thymic emigrants home to and efficiently repopulate the small intestine epithelium NATURE IMMUNOLOGY Staton, T. L., Habtezion, A., Winslow, M. M., Sato, T., Love, P. E., Butcher, E. C. 2006; 7 (5): 482-488

Abstract

Prevailing knowledge dictates that naive alphabeta T cells require activation in lymphoid tissues before differentiating into effector or memory T cells capable of trafficking to nonlymphoid tissues. Here we demonstrate that CD8(+) recent thymic emigrants (RTEs) migrated directly into the small intestine. CCR9, CCL25 and alpha(4)beta(7) integrin were required for gut entry of CD8(+) RTEs. After T cell receptor stimulation, intestinal CD8(+) RTEs proliferated and acquired a surface phenotype resembling that of intraepithelial lymphocytes. CD8(+) RTEs efficiently populated the gut of lymphotoxin-alpha-deficient mice, which lack lymphoid organs. These studies challenge the present understanding of naive alphabeta T cell trafficking and suggest that RTEs may be involved in maintaining a diverse immune repertoire at mucosal surfaces.

View details for DOI 10.1038/ni1319

View details for Web of Science ID 000237008800013

View details for PubMedID 16582913