Quantitative and qualitative immunohistochemistry of T cell subsets and MHC Class II expression in the canine small intestine

In man and rodents, cells of the gastrointestinal immune system include B and T lymphocytes, granulocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells. Abnormalities in leucocyte numbers and function have been described in diseases of humans, such as coeliac disease and inflammatory bowel disease. The purpose of this study is to describe the normal distribution of T cells and MHC Class II expression in the small intestine of clinically normal dogs, to allow subsequent comparison with disease states. Full-thickness sections of duodenum, jejunum and ileum from seven young adult beagle dogs were immediately snap-frozen following euthanasia. Avidin—biotin-enhanced immunocytochemistry was used to detect expression of canine CD3, CD4, CD8 and MHC Class II antigens. Positively stained lamina propria cells were quantified using an eyepiece graticule, and positively stained intraepithelial cells by counts per 100 epithelial cells. In the lamina propria, the density of all leucocyte subsets was significantly increased towards the villus tip for all regions (p < 0.05). There was no apparent difference in the distribution of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ leucocytes between the three portions of the small intestine. The ratios of CD4+ cells to CD8+ cells in the lamina propria and epithelium were 59:41 and 15:85, respectively. Subtractive analysis suggested that 50–55% of CD3+ intraepithelial cells were CD4−CD8−. MHC Class II expression was apparent upon lamina propria cells with a dendritic morphology, as well as round cells. Epithelial MHC Class II expression was apparent in 77 ileal sections, compared with only 17 duodenal and 17 jejunal sections. This study shows that the small intestinal mucosa of the dog contains similar leucocyte populations to those found in other species, and suggests that these cells may play similar roles in gastrointestinal immunity.