Butyrophilin-like 1 encodes an enterocyte protein that selectively regulates functional interactions with T lymphocytes.

• Although local regulation of T-cell responses by epithelial cells is increasingly viewed as important, few molecules mediating such regulation have been identified. Skint1, a recently identified member of the Ig-supergene family expressed by thymic epithelial cells and keratinocytes, specifies the murine epidermal intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL) repertoire. Investigating whether Skint1-related molecules might regulate IEL in other compartments, this study focuses on buytrophilin-like 1 (Btnl1), which is conspicuously similar to Skint1 and primarily restricted to small intestinal epithelium. Btnl1 protein is mostly cytoplasmic, but surface expression can be induced, and in vivo Btnl1 can be detected adjacent to the IEL. In a newly developed culture system, enforced epithelial cell expression of Btnl1 attenuated the cells' response to activated IEL, as evidenced by suppression of IL-6 and other inflammatory mediators. These findings offer a unique perspective on emerging genetic data that Btnl genes may comprise novel and important local regulators of gut inflammation.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Mikrobiologi inom det medicinska området (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Microbiology in the medical area (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Amino Acid Sequence

Animals

Cell Communication

Cytokines

metabolism

Enterocytes

metabolism

Epithelial Cells

cytology

metabolism

Gene Expression Regulation

Glycoproteins

chemistry

genetics

metabolism

HEK293 Cells

Humans

Intestine

Small

cytology

metabolism

Membrane Glycoproteins

chemistry

genetics

metabolism

Mice

Molecular Sequence Data

Protein Transport

Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

T-Lymphocytes

cytology

metabolism

Publication and Content Type

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