Intraepithelial lymphocyte

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Intraepithelial lymphocyte

Intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) are lymphocyte

Lymphocyte

A lymphocyte is a type of white blood cell in the vertebrate immune system.By their appearance under the light microscope, there are two broad categories of lymphocytes, namely the large granular lymphocytes and the small lymphocytes....
s found in the epithelial

Epithelium

In biology and medicine, epithelium is a Biological tissue composed of cell s that line the cavities and surfaces of structures throughout the body....
layer of mammalian mucosal linings, such as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract

Gastrointestinal tract

The digestive tract is the system of Organ s within multicellular animals that takes in food, digestion it to extract energy and nutrients, and expels the remaining waste....
and reproductive tract. However, unlike other T cells, IEL's do not need priming. Upon encountering antigens, they immediately release cytokines and cause killing of infected target cells. In the GI tract, they are components of gut-associated lymphoid tissue

Gut-associated lymphoid tissue

The digestive tract's immune system is often referred to as gut-associated lymphoid tissue and works to protect the body from invasion....
(GALT).

IELs express gamma-delta heterodimers.

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Encyclopedia

Intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) are lymphocyte

Lymphocyte

Epithelium

Gastrointestinal tract

Gut-associated lymphoid tissue

The digestive tract's immune system is often referred to as gut-associated lymphoid tissue and works to protect the body from invasion....
(GALT).

IELs express gamma-delta heterodimers. Most gamma-delta T cell receptor

T cell receptor

The T cell receptor or TCR is a molecule found on the surface of T lymphocytes that is, in general, responsible for recognizing antigens bound to major histocompatibility complex molecules....
s (TCRs) lack the CD4

CD4

CD4 is a glycoprotein expressed on the surface of T helper cells, regulatory T cells, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. It was discovered in the late 1970s and was originally known as leu-3 and T4 before being named CD4 in 1984....
+ and CD8

CD8

CD8 is a transmembrane protein glycoprotein that serves as a co-receptor for the T cell receptor . Like the TCR, CD8 binds to a major histocompatibility complex molecule, but is specific for the major histocompatibility complex#class I MHC protein....
+ marker, however, gamma-delta TCRs are unique in that they are CD8+.

Pathology

An elevated IEL population, as determined by biopsy, typically indicates ongoing inflammation within the mucosa. In diseases such as coeliac sprue, IEL elevation throughout the small intestine is one of many specific markers.

Alternatively, elevated IEL populations can be a marker for developing neoplasia in the tissue (such as found in cervical

Cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is malignant cancer of the cervix uteri or cervical area. It may present with vaginal bleeding but symptoms may be absent until the cancer is in its advanced stages....
and prostate

Prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is a disease in which cancer develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. It occurs when cell s of the prostate Mutation and begin to multiply out of control....
cancers). IELs themselves can of course, undergo mutation to become lymphoma

Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a type of cancer that originates in lymphocytes of the immune system. They often originate in lymph nodes, presenting as an enlargement of the node ....
.