An important role for intestinally derived T cells in respiratory defence.

Margaret Dunkley, Reinhard Pabst and Allan Cripps discuss the role of intestinally derived T cells in protecting the lung against Gram-negative bacterial infection. They describe the factors directing T-cell migration from gut-associated lymphoid tissue to lung, and focus on the role of T cells and T-cell-derived cytokines in bacterial clearance from the lung.