title: Rapid in vivo transport of proteins from digested allergen across pre-sensitized gut.
abstract: Although the route of sensitization to food allergens is still the subject of debate, it is generally accepted the gut immune system plays a pivotal role. However, hitherto the transport of allergens across the normal, pre-sensitized gut epithelium remained largely unknown. Our aim was to identify the route through which protein bodies and soluble proteins from digested peanuts penetrated the pre-sensitized gut epithelium in vivo and the specific cell types involved in the transport. Digestion of peanuts released a large number of protein bodies that are exclusively transported across the epithelium by specialized antigen-sampling M cells and delivered to the lymphoid tissue of Peyer's patch. Intracellular transport of soluble protein also occurred almost exclusively via M cells and it was negligible across absorptive enterocytes. We hypothesize that these conditions which are known to favour strongly the induction of immune responses rather than oral tolerance may play a significant role in the genesis of allergic reactions.
authors.affiliation: Programmes of Gastrointestinal Health and Function, Institute of Food Research, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.forename: Martin S J
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Wickham
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Regoli
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bertelli
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Gunning
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D010367:Arachis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D001693:Biological Transport, Active / Q000502:physiology; D004063:Digestion / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010581:Peyer's Patches / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D010940:Plant Proteins