"For whom the bell tolls!" -- innate defense mechanisms and survival strategies of the intestinal epithelium against lumenal pathogens

Z Gastroenterol. 2002 Dec;40(12):983-90. doi: 10.1055/s-2002-36159.

Abstract

The intestinal epithelium serves as an essential defensive barrier of the mucosal immune system that forms a bipolar interface between the diverse populations of microbes of the lumen and subjacent immune cells present in the lamina propria. Intestinal epithelial cells express various pattern recognition receptors -- poised to recognize microbial "pathogen-associated molecular patterns" as "non-self" and to rapidly initiate innate immune responses of survival and active defense strategies against lumenal pathogens. Current understanding of the variety of innate immune features present in intestinal epithelium to maintain homeostasis is summarized and the mechanisms through which dysregulation may play a central role in initiation and perpetuation of inflammatory bowel disease are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Bacteria / immunology
  • Bacteria / pathogenicity
  • Cells, Cultured / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured / microbiology
  • Drosophila / immunology
  • Drosophila Proteins*
  • Enterocytes / immunology
  • Enterocytes / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / immunology
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / microbiology
  • Homeostasis
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate*
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / etiology
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / genetics
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / immunology*
  • Intestinal Mucosa / immunology*
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Intestinal Mucosa / microbiology*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / immunology
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / physiology
  • Toll-Like Receptor 5
  • Toll-Like Receptors

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Toll-Like Receptor 5
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • tehao protein, Drosophila