title: Review: Peyer's patches.
abstract: The function of Peyer's patches as antigenic sampling sites involves the complex interplay of a variety of mechanisms that aim to recognize luminal antigens, induce an immunological response and decrease the incidence of antigen translocation across the mucosal epithelium. This is achieved by M cells, which facilitate the uptake of luminal antigens, a vascular architecture that promotes the retention of absorbed antigens within the patch interstitium (allowing for maximal antigenic activation of lymphocytes) and the presence of lymphoid follicles that contain antigen-presenting cells and lymphocytes. Lymphocytes encountering antigen in the Peyer's patches proliferate, differentiate into fully mature antigen-specific effector cells and migrate to the mesenteric lymph nodes where they undergo final maturation. The mature lymphocytes then enter the systemic circulation and migrate throughout the other mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues of the body and "home' into the gut via high endothelial venules and gut-associated lymphoid tissue-specific adhesion molecules, providing antigen-specific lymphocytes at sites likely to re-encounter the antigen.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Surgery, Royal Perth Hospital, Australia.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Heel
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: McCauley
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Papadimitriou
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity / Q000166:cytology; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000276:immunology; D010581:Peyer's Patches / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens