Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology

Volume 115, Issue 6, December 1998, Pages 1414-1425
Gastroenterology

Alimentary Tract
Lymphocyte-filled villi: Comparison with other lymphoid aggregations in the mucosa of the human small intestine☆,☆☆

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-5085(98)70020-4Get rights and content

Abstract

Background & Aims: Solitary lymphoid structures that may be sites of primary extrathymic T-cell differentiation have been described recently in murine (cryptopatches) and rat (lymphocyte-filled villi) small intestine. This study tests the hypothesis that similar structures occur in human small intestine. Methods: Normal small intestine was obtained during surgery. Fixed tissue was examined histologically, and frozen sections were examined by an indirect immunoperoxidase technique using a panel of mouse monoclonal antibodies. Results: A new isolated lymphoid structure, with epithelium resembling follicle-associated epithelium of Peyer's patches, is described as a lymphocyte-filled villus. These structures contain major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II–positive dendritic cells, a majority of memory T cells, a variable B-cell component, and no evidence of immature lymphocytes that express either c-kit or CD1a. Two previously described lymphoid aggregations (isolated lymphoid follicles and submucosal lymphoid aggregations) are components of a single structure. The complete structure contains a B-cell follicle, T cells with mainly memory (CD45RO-positive) phenotype, high endothelial venules, and no detectable population of immature lymphocytes. Conclusions: A new solitary lymphoid structure is described in the human small intestine. Neither these structures nor isolated lymphoid follicles appear to be similar to solitary primary lymphoid structures in rodent intestine.

GASTROENTEROLOGY 1998;115:1414-1425

Section snippets

Small bowel specimens

Segments of small intestine were obtained at surgery from 6 adult patients at sites of intended anastomosis (details in Table 1).

. Details of tissue donors used

Source (case no.)Pathological status of specimenAge (yr)SexDiagnosis
Jejunum (3)Normal37MObesitya
Jejunum (5)Normal27FObesitya
Jejunum (4)Normal66MChronic pancreatitisb
Jejunum (2)Blind loop36MObesityc
Ileum (1)Normal26FCarcinoma, cecumd
Ileum (6)Normal78MCarcinoma, colond
aCreation of gastric bypass. bPancreatico-jejunostomy. cReversal of

LFV

Approximately 1 per 230 villi in jejunum had a modified structure, with large numbers of lymphocytes packed in the lamina propria. These LFV had a mean diameter (105 μm; equivalent to 21 sections of 5-μm thickness) that was similar to that of classical villi (110 μm; equivalent to 22 sections). LFV did not contain organized follicles (Figure 1), and serial sections showed that they did not extend through the muscularis mucosa at any point.

. LFV in the jejunal mucosa. The villus is broader than

Discussion

This histological and immunohistological study of the mucosa of the human small intestine was undertaken to search for novel lymphoid structures similar to those described as cryptopatches in mice27 and LFV in both rats28 and mice (M. Moghaddami and G. Mayrhofer, unpublished data, June 1995). In both species, structures of this sort are solitary, and they differ from PPs further by containing a majority of lymphocytes that express neither surface Ig nor the T-cell receptor. Because

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    ☆

    Address requests for reprints to: Graham Mayrhofer, BM.Bch., D. Phil., Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia. e-mail: [email protected]; fax: (61) 8-8303-4362.

    ☆☆

    Supported by Grant 920088 from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.

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    Copyright © 1998 American Gastroenterological Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.