title: Intestinal epithelial cells as watchdogs for the natural immune system.
abstract: Intestinal epithelial cells secrete a spectrum of chemoattractant and proinflammatory cytokines after invasion by bacteria. We suggest the novel concept that epithelial cells not only act as a mechanical barrier to invasive bacteria, but that they also signal the presence of invasive pathogens to the mucosal immune and inflammatory cells.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eckmann
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Kagnoff
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fierer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D007107:Immune System / Q000276:immunology*; D007422:Intestines / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D014551:Urinary Tract / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines