[Intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes in cirrhosis: experiment with rats].

Objective: To investigate the phenotypes of T lymphocytes in the intestinal epithelium in cirrhosis.

Methods: Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: cirrhosis group (n = 25) undergoing subcutaneous injection of 40% carbon tetrachloride twice a week for 10-12 weeks to establish cirrhosis models, and control group (n = 15). Twelve weeks later the rats were killed with their levers taken out. The T lymphocytes in the intestinal epithelium were isolated and labeled with mouse anti-rat CD3, CD4 and CD8 monoclonal antibody, Flow cytometry was performed.

Results: The number of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes of the cirrhosis group was (3.4 +/- 1.1) x 10(5)/cm, significantly higher than that of the control group [(2.3 +/- 0.5) x 10(5)/cm, P < 0.05]. The proportion of CD3(+) cells of the cirrhosis group were (76 +/- 8)%, not significantly different from that of the control group [(80 +/- 6)%, P > 0.05]. There were no significant different between two group (P > 0.05). The proportion of CD4(+)CD8(+) subpopulation of the cirrhosis group was (6.9 +/- 3.3)%, significantly higher than that of the control group [(3.7 +/- 1.8)%, P < 0.05]. The proportion of CD4(+)CD8(-) subpopulation of the cirrhosis group was (6.9 +/- 3.0)%, significantly higher than that of the control group [(4.4 +/- 1.4)%, P < 0.05].

Conclusion: There were alterations of the immune barrier function in cirrhosis. The increase of the proportion of CD4(+)CD8(+) subpopulation may be associated with the increases of the number of intestinal bacteria.