Mucosal Immunity Flashcards
what are the physiological functions of mucosal tissues
gas exchange, food absorption, sensory activities, reproduction
what makes the mucosal tissues highly vulnerable
fragile and permeable
give an example of a non pathogenic antigen
dietary protein
what does trans and para cellular mean
para- travelling in tight gap between
trans- travelling through cells
describe how the mucosal tissues of the body are unified
an immune response in one can be common in all sites
what are the mucosal tissues of the body
GI tract, resp tract, uro-genital tract, mammary glands, kidney
what is the role of the primary lymphoid tissue
regulate and monitor antigen passage
how do immune cells evoke a response in the lymph nodes
dendritic cells come to the lymph nodes with antigens and look for T cells that will recognise antigens- if found = immune response, proliferation, differentiation and production of antibodies
describe the anatomical features (3) of the gut mucosal immune system
intimate relationship between mucosal epthelia and lymphoid tissue
organised lymphoid tissue structures unique to mucosal sites
specialised antigen uptake mechanisms to maximise sampling
what are the effector mechanisms of the gut mucosal immune system
activates/ memory T cells
natural effector/ regulatory T cells responsible for down regulating immune response aswell
what are effectors and roles of the immmunoregulatory environment within the gut mucosal immune system
inhibitory macrophages and tolerising dendritic cells
active down regulation of immune response
what is peyers patch
specialised lymph node (secondary lymph tissue) that sits in the epithelium of the gut, site of antigen sampling of gut contents
where are lymphoid tissues found in the gut
scattered throughout lamina propria of intestine and in organised lymphoid tissues- peyers patch
what covers the peyers patch
an epithelial layer containing specialised cells called M cells which have characteristic membrane ruffles
describe the structure and role of M cells
M for microvilli which cover the surface to increase SA
antigen sampling- acts as a gateway to peyers patch. beneath M cell in dendritic cell that processes and presents antigen to T cells which leave patch and move to mesentery lymph nodes
how do M cells sample the gut contents and transport the antigens to the T cells
M cells take up antigen by endocytosis and phagocytosis
antigen is transported across the M cell in vesicles and released at the basal surface
antigen is bound by dendritic cells which activate T cells
how can dendritic cells sample the gut contents
can extend processes across the epithelial layer
what is the main site of antigen sampling
lamina propria
what are to distinct compartments of the mucosal immune system
the epithelium and the lamina propria
what are the immune cells of the lamina propria
CD4 T cells, dendritic, macrophage, mast, DC, IgA, plasma cell
what are the immune cells of the epithelial layer
CD8 T cells, dendritic cells
describe the pathway of T cells to and from the peyers patch
enter via bloodstream, activated, drain via mesenteric lymph nodes to the thoracic duct, return to gut via blood stream, travel to lamina propria to carry out effector function
how does the T cell leave the small intestine
gut homing effector T cells bind to MAdCAM-1 on endothelium
gut epithelial cells express chemokines specific for gut homing T cells which allow the movement into the lamina propria
where can lymphocytes primed in the gut migrate to
other mucosal sites
what is the most common imunoglobulin in the intestine
IgA (mucosa) 80%
IgM 15%
IgG 5 %
reverse of systemic immune response
what does a dimeric immunoglobulin mean
two molecules joined together by a J (joining) chain
what path do immunoglobins take in the intestine immune response
binds to receptor on basolateral face of epithelial cell ( in lamina propria)
endocytosis and transcytosis to the apical face of cell
released into lumen
what is the role of the IgA that is released into the lumen
bind to and neutralise pathogens and toxins
is then internalised by endosomes
exports toxins and pathogens form the lamina propria
how can people with IgA deficiency be a-symptomatic
as IgM can replace IgA as is also a polymeric Ig can used same polymeric Ig receptor on epithelial cells
what is the most common intraepithelial lymphoctye
90% T cells (80% of these T cells CD8+)