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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #398113
Research Project: Intestinal Microbial Ecology and Non-Antibiotic Strategies to Limit Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and Antimicrobial Resistance Transmission in Food Animals

Location: Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research

Title: Intraepithelial lymphocytes in the pig intestine: T cell and innate lymphoid cell contributions to intestinal barrier immunity

Author
item WIARDA, JAYNE - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE)
item Loving, Crystal

Submitted to: Frontiers in Immunology
Publication Type: Literature Review
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/25/2022
Publication Date: 12/8/2022
Citation: Wiarda, J.E., Loving, C.L. 2022. Intraepithelial lymphocytes in the pig intestine: T cell and innate lymphoid cell contributions to intestinal barrier immunity. Frontiers in Immunology. 13. Article 104708. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.1048708.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.1048708

Interpretive Summary: Immune cells known as intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) are located in the lining of the intestinal tract and are some of the earliest immune cells to populate the intestine, making them important in shaping early-life intestinal health with impacts on long-term overall health. We review current knowledge of how IELs are shaped by early life events and how IELs function in the context of intestinal status in pigs. We highlight recent advances in identifying and characterizing IELs and point out important areas where future research may be focused to better understand the roles of IELs in pigs. Noting recent advances and areas for further research pertaining to IELs is important due to implications for improving pig health and limiting colonization with foodborne pathogens.

Technical Abstract: Intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) are important mediators of intestinal immunity and barrier defense, yet most knowledge of IELs is derived from the study of humans and rodent models. Pigs are an important global food source and promising biomedical model, yet relatively little is known about IELs in the porcine intestine, especially during formative ages of intestinal development. Due to the biological significance of IELs, global importance of pig health, and potential of early life events to influence IELs, we collate current knowledge of porcine IEL functional and phenotypic maturation in the context of the developing intestinal tract and outline areas where further research is needed. Based on available findings, we formulate probable implications of IELs on intestinal and overall health outcomes and highlight key findings in relation to human IELs to emphasize potential applicability of pigs as a biomedical model for intestinal IEL research. Review of current literature suggests the study of porcine intestinal IELs as an exciting research frontier with dual application for betterment of animal and human health.