Immunological Aspects of Intestinal Mucus and Mucins

Overview

Journal Nat Rev Immunol

Specialty Allergy & Immunology

Date 2016 Aug 9

PMID 27498766

Citations 371

Authors

Malin E V Johansson

Gunnar C Hansson

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

A number of mechanisms ensure that the intestine is protected from pathogens and also against our own intestinal microbiota. The outermost of these is the secreted mucus, which entraps bacteria and prevents their translocation into the tissue. Mucus contains many immunomodulatory molecules and is largely produced by the goblet cells. These cells are highly responsive to the signals they receive from the immune system and are also able to deliver antigens from the lumen to dendritic cells in the lamina propria. In this Review, we will give a basic overview of mucus, mucins and goblet cells, and explain how each of these contributes to immune regulation in the intestine.

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