T-cell recruitment to the intestinal mucosa.
The intestinal epithelium and underlying lamina propria contains large numbers of T cells that play an important role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis and defense against intestinal pathogens. Recent years have seen several significant advances in our understanding of the mechanisms regulating T-cell localization to the intestinal mucosa. For instance, we now know that the small intestine 'imprints' gut homing properties on T cells by inducing the expression of specific integrins and chemokine receptors. Further studies have identified distinct subsets of intestinal dendritic cells that use retinoic acid to generate both gut-tropic and regulatory T cells. As our understanding of the mechanisms regulating the generation of gut tropic T-cell populations evolves, the possibility of targeting these processes for mucosal vaccine development and treatment of intestinal immune pathology become more apparent.
Immunology Section, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden. William.agace@med.lu.se
William W
WW
Agace
D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000276:immunology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal / Q000276:immunology*; D039001:Integrin alpha Chains / Q000276:immunology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D054388:Receptors, CCR / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D039001:Integrin alpha Chains; D054388:Receptors, CCR; C091367:alpha E integrins