Fig. 5: Internalised CD8+ T cells observed within BEC in vivo are CD69+ CD103+ and are enriched in patients with PBC.
From: Expression of E-cadherin by CD8+ T cells promotes their invasion into biliary epithelial cells
a Assessment of CD69 and CD103 expression by peripheral blood-derived CD8+ T cells via flow cytometry. Cells were phenotyped in the absence of activation stimuli (black) or following 24 h (red) or 48 h (cyan) after α-CD3/CD28 activation. Left: representative contour plots showing CD69 and CD103 expression by non-activated, 24 h-activated, 48 h-activated CD8+ T cells. Right: Percentage of CD8+ T cells expressing CD103. n = 14 independent patient samples. p-values were derived from two-way Friedman Tests, corrected for multiple comparisons, and are displayed in the figure for each statistical comparison made. Error bars present median and interquartile range. b Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining of a liver tissue section from a patient with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), showing CD69+ (green), CD103+ (magenta) CD8+ (grey) T cell (white arrow) internalised within E-cadherin+ (orange) biliary epithelial cells (BEC) which form a bile duct. Right panel shows magnified images of left panel inset (yellow box). c Semi-quantification of IHC-stained liver tissues for the presence of CD103+ CD8+ and KLRG1+ CD8+ T cells in specific locations within liver tissues from non-cirrhotic donors and patients with PBC, alcohol related liver disease (ArLD) or autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). n = 6 independent patient samples per disease condition. Bars represent the percentage of tissues analysed displaying a minimum of three CD103+ CD8+ or KLRG1+ CD8+ T cells in the location stated in the graph titles. d Quantification of internalised 48 h activated CD8+ T cells per 100 BEC following 4 h co-culture. T cells were pretreated with α-CD103 antibody or an isotype-matched control (IMC). Nine fields of view were analysed from triplicate wells. Mean numbers of internalised CD8+ T cells/100 BEC/technical repeat are plotted. Values are normalised and displayed as a fold change from IMC-treated cells. n = 1 biologically independent experiment. Error bars represent standard error of the mean (SEM).
