title: Dietary influences on intestinal immunity.
abstract: The function of the gastrointestinal tract relies on a monolayer of epithelial cells, which are essential for the uptake of nutrients. The fragile lining requires protection against insults by a diverse array of antigens. This is accomplished by the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues of the gastrointestinal tract, which constitute a highly organized immune organ. In this Review, we discuss several recent findings that provide a compelling link between dietary compounds and the organization and maintenance of immune tissues and lymphocytes in the intestine. We highlight some of the molecular players involved, in particular ligand-activated nuclear receptors in lymphoid cells.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Lymphocyte Signalling and Development, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, CB22 3AT, UK. marc.veldhoen@babraham.ac.uk
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veldhoen
authors.forename: Verena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brucklacher-Waldert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000378:metabolism; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology; D007422:Intestines / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D010581:Peyer's Patches / Q000276:immunology; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000502:physiology; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear