In situ Activated Intestinal T Cells Expanded in vitro – without Addition of Antigen – Produce IFN-γ and IL-10 and Preserve Their Function during Growth

OBJECTIVE: The balance between mucosal CD4+ T cells producing IFN-gamma or IL-10 is essential in the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis. We aimed to investigate how in situ activated T cells were expanded in vitro according to a new cell culture protocol and if it selected for continuous clonal CD4+ T cells capable of producing mainly IFN-gamma or IL-10. METHODS: T cell cultures were established from colonic biopsy specimens of 27 patients with Crohn's disease and from 10 healthy controls in a medium supplemented with IL-2 and IL-4 but without addition of exogenous antigen or mitogen. Cytokine production was measured after stimulation (IL-12, super antigen) and inhibition (cyclosporin and methylprednisolone). RESULTS: Cytokine production was increased in cultures from patients with Crohn's disease compared to controls (IFN-gamma, p = 0.005; IL-10, p = 0.003; TNF-alpha, p = 0.03). Early cultures were highly responsive to IL-12 stimulation. We established CD4+ T-cell clones escaping cellular senescence with an inflammatory or regulatory cytokine profile. DISCUSSION: The data indicate that cultures of in situ activated inflammatory and regulatory subpopulations of intestinal T lymphocytes with pathogenic importance in Crohn's disease can be established preserving their functional properties during growth.