Regulatory T cells play a role in the control of immune responses in the intestinal mucosa and their absence may predispose to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We have previously shown that T cells activated by intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) are suppressive in function. Our goal was to characterize the phenotype and function of T cells proliferating after interaction with IECs.

Irradiated human IECs, isolated from normal resection specimens, were cultured with carboxy fluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) labeled T cells. Flow cytometric analysis of T cells was performed at days 5–10. CD8+ T cells proliferating in culture with IECs were sorted and added to suppressive assays.

The precursor frequency of T cells proliferating in response to IECs ranged from 0.3%–0.9%. Several subpopulations were shown to proliferate (CD8+CD28−/CD8+CD28+/CD4+CD25+), but one population (CD8+CD28−CD101+CD103+) appeared to be dependent on contact with the CD8 ligand gp180. After sorting, culture in the presence of interleukin (IL)-7 and IL-15 allowed for the generation of cell lines. IEC-activated CD8+ T cells, but not nonactivated CD8+ T cells, were suppressive in function. Suppression belonged to the CD101+CD103+ subset of IEC-activated CD8+ T cells and appeared to require cell contact. CD8+ lamina propria T cells also showed suppressive function, suggesting the presence of CD8+ regulatory T cells in the mucosa.

IECs are able to induce the proliferation of a small fraction of CD8+ peripheral T cells. The CD8+CD28− subset of IEC-activated CD8+ T cells, which express CD101 and CD103, interacts with IECs through gp180 and has regulatory function.