Abstract
Disruption of the maintenance of intestinal epithelial homeostasis results in many intestinal disorders. It is suggested that intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) contribute to this homeostasis through their involvement in the elimination of abnormal epithelial cells. Some forms of dietary fiber inhibit the decrease in the number of CD8+ IELs by anti-asialo GM1 administration to maintain epithelial homeostasis. Even under physiological conditions, some fermentable forms of dietary fiber modify the distribution of IELs and natural killer cells in the large intestine. This suggests that the epithelium selects the type of intraepithelial lymphocytes according to the type of dietary fiber ingested. It is considered that dietary fiber modulates the distribution of IELs and natural killer cells in the epithelial layer via luminal fermentation.
