1-22 Mucosal Immunity Flashcards
What is the largest immune tissue?
Mucosal Tissues Surface area: 200 X skin Largest immune tissue: ¾ all lymphocytes Majority of Igs Function(s): thin & permeable Vulnerable
What are 2 strategies of mucosal immunity?
Exclusion
Immunosuppression
What is the primary function of mucosal immunity?
Provide defense at all mucosal surfaces
What is a secondary function of mucosal immunity?
Prevent antigens from entering into the circulation
Prevent a systemic immune response to an inappropriate antigen exposure
What is unique about mucosal immunity?
Unique population of immune cells that undergo alternative development
Unique mucosal immunoglobulin (sIgA)
Distinct antigenic environment
Use different homing signals
What is GALT? What does it consist of?
Gut-Associated Lymphoid tissue – GALT
Consist of mucosal follicles: Peyer’s patches
What is an “afferent” lymphoid area?
Antigen is entering at these sites
How does GALT differ from systemic immune system tissues?
Antigen influx occurs across a mucosal epithelium
Not through blood or lymph
What are the cellular components of a mucosal barrier?
Enterocytes (IEC), basement membrane, tight junctions, normal flora
What are the acellular components of a mucosal barrier?
Digestive activity:
- pepsin, papain, trypsin, chymotrypsin, pancreatic proteases (unfavorable living environment)
- lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase, lysozyme (inhibit microbe growth)
Defensins
Peristalsis
Mucin: Protective reservoir for sIgA
What are commensals?
Normal flora
Physical barrier limiting colonization by pathogens
Must distinguish between beneficial & pathogenic
How do commensals protect against infection?
By colonizing a surface so that it resembles rush hour on a Tokyo subway.
Out-competes most invading pathogens for space, resources.
Sheer numbers keep potentially pathogenic normal flora in check.
What 2 compartments make up the mucosal immune system?
epithelium
lamina propria
How do intestinal epithelial cells contribute to mucosal immunity?
Joined by tight junctions apically and basally
- Prevent passage of macromolecules
Nonprofessional antigen presentation and inducible cell surface molecules
- Selective activation of CD8+T
Constant translocation of sIgA
Inducible FcER (IL-4) cross-linking leads to fluid & electrolyte secretion
What are M cells?
Microfold cells
Flattened epithelial cells
What do M cells do? Are they APCs? Specific?
Distinguished by ability to pinocytose material
Transport material in an un-degraded form
Express HLA class II but DO NOT act as antigen presenting cells
Possibly some specificity involved - normal flora not transported
What is the mechanism for M cells?
M cells take up antigen by endocytosis and phagocytosis
Ag is transported across the M cells in vesicles and released at the basal surface
Ag is bound by DCs, which then activates T cells
What are Dome cells?
Mucosal dendritic cells
- a type of APC
Where are Dome cells located prior to migration? Why are they located here?
Dense band of dendritic cells
just below the epithelium & through it
- bacteria induced homing
Dome cells can extend processes across the epithelial layer to capture Ag from the gut
Can uptake antigen emerging from M-cells
Where do Dome cells migrate to? What do they do?
Migrate to the inter-follicular areas
Present antigen to T-cells
InduceTreg proliferation
IL-10
How are Dome cells important for digestion/absorption?
Retinoic acid synthesis
Only DCs in the gut express retinal dehydrogenases (RALDH) which is necessary for the synthesis of retinoic acid from vitamin A.
What are Intraepithelial lymphocyte (IELs)?
Mature differentiated T-cells
- Most are CD8+ T-cells (80%)
- Significant population express a / TCR
- 10-40% - normal <5%