In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde die Bedeutung von intraepithelialen Lymphozyten (IEL), oxidativem Streß und endogenen Schutzmechanismen bei GvHR, Dünndarmtransplantation, Sepsis, Morbus Crohn sowie intestinalem Ischämie/Reperfusionsschaden (I/RS) analysiert. Die Bestimmung der phänotypischen und funktionellen Charaktistika der IEL im Rahmen der o. g. Erkrankungen wies auf eine Selektion bestimmter T-Zell Subpopulationen in der Darmschleimhaut hin. Zusätzlich konnte gezeigt werden, daß IEL nicht nur als Effektorzellen zur mukosalen Barrierefunktion beitragen, sondern auch regulierende Funktionen bei weiteren Abwehrmechanismen der Darmschleimhaut, wie z.B. der NOS-2 Expression besitzen. Die Untersuchungen zum intestinalen I/RS zeigten eine Gewebeschädigung nicht nur im Darm sondern auch der Leber nach selektiver intestinaler Ischämie. Dabei konnte in beiden Organen oxidativer Streß als ein Faktor der Gewebeschädigung nachgewiesen werden. Bei der Modulation des I/RS durch Gabe von Zytokinen konnte eine Zunahme des I/RS durch Gabe von IL-10 und eine Abnahme des I/RS durch IL-2 erreicht werden. Der positive Effekt der IL-2 Gabe war von einer verstärkten und verlängerten NOS-2 mRNA Expression sowie einer gesteigerten NO-Freisetzung begleitet. Im Gegensatz dazu fehlte nach IL-10 Gabe die Zunahme der NOS-2 Epxression ebenso wie ein Anstieg der NO-Metabolite im Serum. Die verminderte NO-Produktion könnte somit den negativen Effekt des anti-inflammatorischen IL-10 auf den I/RS erklären. / In this study, the role of intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) was analyzed in Graft-versus-Host disease, small bowel transplantation, sepsis and inflammatory bowel disease. Furthermore, the influence of oxidative stress and endogenous protective mechanisms on the development of intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury was determined. The phenotypic and functional characteristics of IEL in these diseases indicated that only specific T-cell subsets selectively migrate and/or survive in the intestinal mucosa. In addition, it was demonstrated that IEL display several functions in the intestinal barrier system: they are cytolytic effector cells, but do also exert regulatory functions on the expression of mucosal host defense mechanisms such as NOS-2 expression. The investigations on intestinal ischemia / reperfusion injury revealed that selective intestinal ischemia induces tissue injury not only in the intestine, but in the liver as well. In both organs, oxidative stress plays a predominant role in the development of tissue destruction. Modulation of I/RS by administration of cytokines lead to increased tissue damage after IL-10 administration and reduced tissue injury after IL-2 administration. The beneficial effect of IL-2 may have been due to an increased NOS-2 mRNA expression and the subsequently increased NO production. In contrast, IL-10 administration failed to induce an increased NOS-2 mRNA expression or NO production in the intestine and liver.

<p>T lymphocytes regulate the initiation, duration, and magnitude of adaptive immune responses and function as effector cells in cell mediated immunity. To become immunologically competent they must generate functional antigen receptors. This process takes place in the thymus and requires somatic recombination of T cell receptor (TCR) genes. It is mediated by the endonucleases recombination activating gene-1 (RAG1) and RAG2. Although the thymus regresses at puberty, T cells are present throughout life implying that other tissues must provide the proper milieu for T cell development. This thesis describes extrathymic T cell maturation in man. RAG1, RAG2, and the preTα-chain (pTα), which is exclusively utilized in developing T cells, were used as markers for TCR gene rearrangement. Two new exons (1A and 1B) encoding sequences in the 5’ untranslated region (5’UTR) of mRNA were discovered in the human RAG1 gene. The previously described 5’UTR exon (renamed 1C) was located between the new exons and exon 2, the latter containing the entire coding sequence. We found that small intestinal lymphocytes of the T cell lineage expressed the new exons in three different splice forms. RAG1 mRNA containing the 1C exon was not expressed in small intestinal lymphocytes. In contrast, splice forms containing the 1A exon were not expressed in thymocytes. RAG1 and pTα mRNA expressing lymphocytes were seen both within the epithelium and in lamina propria. Thymocyte-like CD2⁺CD7⁺CD3^-, CD4⁺CD8⁺, CD1a⁺, and IL7-R+ lymphocytes were identified in the small intestinal mucosa. CD2⁺CD7⁺CD3^- cells had the highest expression levels of mRNA for RAG1 and pTα, suggesting that the small intestinal mucosa is indeed a site for T cell maturation. Small intestinal T lymphocytes were also shown to kill via the Fas/FasL pathway in a TCR/CD3 independent manner and via the perforin/granzyme pathway in a TCR/CD3 dependent manner. The Fas/FasL-mediated cytotoxicity may reflect an ongoing selection process of extrathymically maturated T cells. </p><p>The nasopharyngeal tonsil is the major inductive site for immune reactions against inhaled antigens. Previous demonstration of RAG1 expression in tonsillar B cells was interpreted as antigen driven receptor revision. The present study confirms the expression of RAG1 in B cells. We also found that RAG1, RAG2, and pTa mRNAs were expressed in lymphocytes of the T cell lineage. A small population of cells with the immature phenotype CD2+CD7+CD3- was demonstrated. This population had the highest expression levels of mRNA for RAG1, RAG2, pTα and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase. All four splice-forms of RAG1 mRNA were expressed. RAG1 and pTα mRNA expressing cells were mainly located in the proximity of the surface epithelium and in the outer rim of the follicles. These results suggest that the nasopharyngeal tonsil is a site where extrathymic T cell development and antigen driven TCR revision are occurring in parallel. </p><p>Celiac disease (CD) is a small intestinal enteropathy characterized by permanent intolerance to gluten. Gluten reactive intestinal T cells are central in the pathogenesis and CD can be regarded as a failure to maintain tolerance to this food antigen. Expression of the RAG1 1A/2 splice form was significantly decreased in small intestinal T cell subsets of CD patients suggesting that impaired TCR gene rearrangement could contribute to failure of maintain tolerance in CD. </p><p>Together, these findings show that both small intestinal and nasopharyngeal tonsillar lymphocytes of T cell lineage have the molecular machinery for antigen receptor rearrangement and that thymocyte-like lymphocytes are present in both tissues. Thus these organs are likely sites of T lymphocyte ontogeny as well as for secondary T cell receptor rearrangement in man. </p>

T lymphocytes regulate the initiation, duration, and magnitude of adaptive immune responses and function as effector cells in cell mediated immunity. To become immunologically competent they must generate functional antigen receptors. This process takes place in the thymus and requires somatic recombination of T cell receptor (TCR) genes. It is mediated by the endonucleases recombination activating gene-1 (RAG1) and RAG2. Although the thymus regresses at puberty, T cells are present throughout life implying that other tissues must provide the proper milieu for T cell development. This thesis describes extrathymic T cell maturation in man. RAG1, RAG2, and the preTα-chain (pTα), which is exclusively utilized in developing T cells, were used as markers for TCR gene rearrangement. Two new exons (1A and 1B) encoding sequences in the 5’ untranslated region (5’UTR) of mRNA were discovered in the human RAG1 gene. The previously described 5’UTR exon (renamed 1C) was located between the new exons and exon 2, the latter containing the entire coding sequence. We found that small intestinal lymphocytes of the T cell lineage expressed the new exons in three different splice forms. RAG1 mRNA containing the 1C exon was not expressed in small intestinal lymphocytes. In contrast, splice forms containing the 1A exon were not expressed in thymocytes. RAG1 and pTα mRNA expressing lymphocytes were seen both within the epithelium and in lamina propria. Thymocyte-like CD2+CD7+CD3-, CD4+CD8+, CD1a+, and IL7-R+ lymphocytes were identified in the small intestinal mucosa. CD2+CD7+CD3- cells had the highest expression levels of mRNA for RAG1 and pTα, suggesting that the small intestinal mucosa is indeed a site for T cell maturation. Small intestinal T lymphocytes were also shown to kill via the Fas/FasL pathway in a TCR/CD3 independent manner and via the perforin/granzyme pathway in a TCR/CD3 dependent manner. The Fas/FasL-mediated cytotoxicity may reflect an ongoing selection process of extrathymically maturated T cells. The nasopharyngeal tonsil is the major inductive site for immune reactions against inhaled antigens. Previous demonstration of RAG1 expression in tonsillar B cells was interpreted as antigen driven receptor revision. The present study confirms the expression of RAG1 in B cells. We also found that RAG1, RAG2, and pTa mRNAs were expressed in lymphocytes of the T cell lineage. A small population of cells with the immature phenotype CD2+CD7+CD3- was demonstrated. This population had the highest expression levels of mRNA for RAG1, RAG2, pTα and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase. All four splice-forms of RAG1 mRNA were expressed. RAG1 and pTα mRNA expressing cells were mainly located in the proximity of the surface epithelium and in the outer rim of the follicles. These results suggest that the nasopharyngeal tonsil is a site where extrathymic T cell development and antigen driven TCR revision are occurring in parallel. Celiac disease (CD) is a small intestinal enteropathy characterized by permanent intolerance to gluten. Gluten reactive intestinal T cells are central in the pathogenesis and CD can be regarded as a failure to maintain tolerance to this food antigen. Expression of the RAG1 1A/2 splice form was significantly decreased in small intestinal T cell subsets of CD patients suggesting that impaired TCR gene rearrangement could contribute to failure of maintain tolerance in CD. Together, these findings show that both small intestinal and nasopharyngeal tonsillar lymphocytes of T cell lineage have the molecular machinery for antigen receptor rearrangement and that thymocyte-like lymphocytes are present in both tissues. Thus these organs are likely sites of T lymphocyte ontogeny as well as for secondary T cell receptor rearrangement in man.