Mucosal immunology of the GI tract Flashcards
What is the physiological function of the GI tract?
Food digestion and absorption
Immune regulation
Describe the cellular structure of the small intestine
Villi and crypts
Goblet cells, paneth cells and Peyer’s patches
Describe the cellular structure of the epithelium of the large intestine?
Crypts, no villi No paneth cells Lots of goblet cells and mucus No Peyer's patches Enterocyctes do defence
What does the mucosal immune system of the GI tract have to do?
Capture the antigen
Initiate the local immune response
Carryout effector functions to clear any infection
Where does antigen capture occur?
In Peyer’s patches and directly across the epithelium by dendritic cells
What are the specialized epithelial cells in Peyer’s patched called?
M cells
What happens to antigens when they meet M cells?
M cells take up the antigen by endocytosis and phagocytosis
Antigen is transported across the M cells in the vesicles and released at the basal surface
Antigen is bound by dendritic cells, which activate T cell
Where does initiation of the intestinal immune response occur?
In the mesenteric lymph nodes
What are lymph nodes a hub for?
Maximising T lymphocyte exposure to antigens
What two types of cell drain to the lymph nodes with antigens?
Dendritic cells and B cells
What happens to T lymphcytes when they are activated?
The loose CCR7 meaning they can no longer re-circulate
Where do activated T cells drain to?
They drain via the mesenteric lymph nodes to the thoracic duct and return to the gut via the bloodstream
What is the most important antibody in the gut/
IgA (80% of immunoglobin in the gut)
IgM 15% and IgG 5%
How is IgA produced and released?
Produced by a IgA-secreting cell
Binds to receptor on basolateral face of epithelial cell
Endocytosis
Transcytosis to apical face of epithelial cell
Release of IgA dimer at apical face of epithelial cell
What does secreted IgA do?
Secreted IgA binds to pathogens and toxins and neutralizes them
While being secreted, IgA can bind to toxins that have entered epithelial cells and export them