Expression of a nonpolymorphic MHC class I-like molecule, CD1D, by human intestinal epithelial cells.

The human CD1 locus encodes three nonpolymorphic MHC class I-like cell surface glycoproteins, CD1a-c, which are expressed primarily by immature thymocytes. A mAb and antipeptide antiserum were utilized to determine the tissue distribution of a fourth CD1 molecule, CD1d. Within the lymphoid lineage, CD1d was expressed on B cells but not on thymocytes. Immunoperoxidase staining of fresh frozen intestinal tissues demonstrated that the majority of intestinal epithelial cells, with the exception of cells at the base of some crypts, expressed CD1d. The CD1d staining was observed in the cytoplasm and along the basolateral membranes of the epithelial cells. The intestinal epithelial cell expression of CD1d was confirmed by immunoblotting with a CD1d antipeptide antiserum. Further immunoperoxidase studies indicated that CD1d, unlike murine CD1, was also expressed by nonlymphoid tissues outside of the gastrointestinal tract. The expression of CD1d outside the lymphoid and myeloid lineages clearly distinguishes this molecule from CD1a-c and suggests that it may serve a distinct function. The prominent expression of CD1d by intestinal epithelial cells suggests that this molecule may be an important ligand for T lymphocytes within the gut-associated lymphoid tissue.