Anti-CD3- or PHA-induced cytotoxicity in human intraepithelial and lamina propria lymphocytes.

Morphological data in humans and rodents and functional data of intraepithelial lymphocytes of mice support the idea that cytotoxic cells are a significant population of the human mucosa. Previously it was shown that human IEL have no spontaneous cell-mediated cytotoxicity and that human LPL cells have anti-CD3-mediated cytotoxicity. We confirm that most individuals have anti-CD3- or PHA-mediated cytotoxicity of LPL. In IEL we do not find cytotoxic function in short-term assays. There is no difference between patients with colon cancer and inflammatory bowel disease.