Carbohydrate Expression in Human and Mouse Peyer’s Patches

Abstract

Subepithelial lymphoid follicles are the major site of antigen sampling in the gut and provide an effector mechanism for secretory immune responses in gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) in the intestine (Roy et al. 1987). The generation of an immune response is important for the protection of host tissues against invasion of microorganisms and for limiting infection (Kraehenbuhl and Neutra 1992). Antigens and macromolecules are transported across the follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) overlying the lymphoid follicles which is composed of enterocytes, goblet cells, membranous (M) cells, pre-M-cells and lymphocytes (Bye et al. 1984; Gebert and Hach 1993). Sampling, endocytosis and transport of luminal antigens is accomplished by M cells which are structurally and biochemically specialised to carry out these functions. M cells can be distinguished from enterocytes by the presence of shorter, fewer, widely spaced microvilli and an intraepithelial pocket containing lymphocytes and macrophages (reviewed by Owen and Ermak 1990; Kraehenbuhl and Neutra 1992).