Analysis of cytokine gene expression by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) demonstrated high spontaneous levels of transcripts for multiple cytokines in murine Peyer's patches (PP) compared to spleen and peripheral lymph nodes. This is consistent with the presence of active germinal centers in PP and their continuous exposure to lumenal antigen including bacterial endotoxin. RT-PCR analysis of cytokine transcripts in purified PP T cell populations revealed the presence of transcripts for interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5 and IL-10 in addition to interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in CD8+ cells purified by flow cytometry. The majority of PP CD8+ T cells were also CD45RBlo (MB23G2-), suggesting that these cells were activated/memory cells. CD8+ cells in spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) were predominantly CD45RBhi (MB23G2+) consistent with a resting/naive phenotype. PP and MLN CD8+ T cells also secreted IL-5 and IL-10 when stimulated with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody and when co-cultured with PP B cells enhanced secretion of both IgG and IgA. These studies suggest that CD8+ T cells at mucosal sites secrete T helper type 2 cytokines and can provide functional help for B cells in these tissues.

Animal *Antibody Formation Cytokines/GENETICS/*SECRETION CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/*IMMUNOLOGY Gene Expression IgA, Secretory/METABOLISM IgG/METABOLISM *Immunologic Memory Interleukin-10/SECRETION Interleukin-5/SECRETION Mice Mice, Inbred C3H Peyer's Patches/*IMMUNOLOGY RNA, Messenger/GENETICS T-Lymphocyte Subsets/*IMMUNOLOGY Th1 Cells/*IMMUNOLOGY Th2 Cells/*IMMUNOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLE

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