Open AccessExpression of MHC antigens by intestinal epithelial cells. Effect of transforming growth factor‐beta 2 (TGF‐β2)
Author(s) -
DONNETHUGHES A.,
SCHIFFRIN E. J.,
HUGGETT A. C.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1995.tb05539.x
Subject(s) - transforming growth factor , transforming growth factor beta , immunology , antigen , major histocompatibility complex , biology , tgf beta signaling pathway , transforming growth factor, beta 3 , immune system , growth factor , microbiology and biotechnology , tgf alpha , genetics , receptor
SUMMARY The effect of interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) and TGF‐β2 on expression of MHC antigens by the human intestinal epithelial cell line HT‐29 was examined by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Untreated HT‐29 cells constitutively expressed HLA‐ABC but little HLA‐DR. Expression of both molecules was increased by IFN‐γ(100 U/ml, 24 h). TGF‐β2 at concentrations × 0·5 ng/ml given before or simultaneously with IFN‐γ, inhibited the IFN‐induced expression of HLA‐DR. Small increases in HLA‐ABC expression by IFN‐γ were further increased by pretreatment with TGF‐β2, while a strong induction of HLA‐ABC was inhibited by the TGF‐β2 pretreatment. Our results suggest that the inhibitory action of the TGF‐β2 on both HLA‐ABC and HLA‐DR correlates with the degree of induction following IFN‐γ treatment. Since TGY‐β2 is present in milk and is produced by gut epithelial cells, one of its possible functions may be to regulate expression of HLA antigens in the neonatal intestine and/or diseased intestine.