<p>This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.</p> <p>Several different cytokines trigger the development of determined cell subsets
            in BALT of growing Wistar rats. Early appearance (4 days post partum) of γδT cells in
            BALT has been shown, as well as its role in up-regulating TNF-α production. In the
            present report, we studied in the BALT: (1) the profile of the cytokines, TNF-α, INF-γ
            and IL-10 and (2) in TCR γδ+ cells, the existence of a colocalization with TNF-α as well
            as with INF-γ. All the cytokines studied were observed at an early stage of BALT
            development by immunohistochemistry and in bronchoalveolar cells (BAL cells) by
            flow cytometry and western blot. (1) The principal cytokine found at 4 days of age in
            BALT cells was TNF-α that increases along BALT development. The same behavior
            was found for cells containing IL-10 and INF-γ. (2) TCR γδ+ cells colocalize mainly with
            TNF-α as it has been shown by immunohistochemistry in BALT and by flow cytometry
             when we studied BAL.</p> <p>The early appearance of TNF-α concomitant with TCR γδ+ cell suggests
             an important role for this cytokine along BALT development. Moreover, mutual
             regulation between them exists taking
             part in the immune surveillance and repair of damaged epithelia.</p>
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Clin Dev Immunol. 2004 Sep-Dec; 11(3-4):253-259