Wk 3 - Immunology: GI Mucosa and Coeliac Disease Flashcards
What is the definition of mucosa?
‘mucosa’ a membrane rich in mucous glands which lines body cavities and passages (as of the gastrointestinal or respiratory tract) which communicate directly or indirectly with the outside of the body
What is the role of the gut mucosa?
- Nutrient absorption
- Production of digestion enzymes
- Physical barrier
- Chemical barrier
List the enzymes that enterocytes produce to aid digestion.
- Maltase - digest maltose to 2 glucose
- Sucrase - digest sucrose to glucose and fructose
- Lactase - digest lactose to glucose and galactose
- Lipase (intestinal) - digest fats into fatty acids and glycerol
- Peptidases (intestinal) - digest peptides to amino acids
What makes up the physical barrier of the gut that protects it?
- Mucus
- Glycocalyx
- Cell monolayer
What is the Glycocalyx (part of the physical barrier of the gut)?
Meshwork of glycoprotein and glycolipid molecules
How does the glycocalyx protect the gut?
- Interact with pathogens to prevent them from invading
- Interact with commensal organisms resulting in a change in the glycocalyx
What does the cell monolayer of the gut (ie enterocyte monolayer) do?
Regulated to allow permeability
The enterocyte monolayer is held together by _____ called _____.
The enterocyte monolayer is held together by specialised proteins (tight junctions) called claudins, occludin and junctional adhesions (JAM).