title: Epithelial-cell recognition of commensal bacteria and maintenance of immune homeostasis in the gut.
abstract: Mucosal surfaces such as the intestinal tract are continuously exposed to both potential pathogens and beneficial commensal microorganisms. This creates a requirement for a homeostatic balance between tolerance and immunity that represents a unique regulatory challenge to the mucosal immune system. Recent findings suggest that intestinal epithelial cells, although once considered a simple physical barrier, are a crucial cell lineage for maintaining intestinal immune homeostasis. This Review discusses recent findings that identify a cardinal role for epithelial cells in sampling the intestinal microenvironment, discriminating pathogenic and commensal microorganisms and influencing the function of antigen-presenting cells and lymphocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Philadelphia 19104-4539, USA. dartis@vet.upenn.edu
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Artis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*