What is the purpose of M cells?

What is the purpose of M cells?

The primary physiological role of M cells seems to be the rapid uptake and presentation of particular antigens and microorganisms to the immune cells of the lymphoid follicle to induce an effective immune response.

What are M cells in the intestine?

M cells are specialized epithelial cells of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues. A characteristic of M cells is that they transport antigens from the lumen to cells of the immune system, thereby initiating an immune response or tolerance.

What is the function of the M cells in the GALT?

Although the vast majority of IEC function to absorb nutrients from the intestine, M cells are highly specialized to take up intestinal microbial antigens and deliver them to GALT for efficient mucosal as well as systemic immune responses.

What is M cell?

M cells are specialized intestinal epithelial cells that provide the main machinery for sampling luminal microbes for mucosal immune surveillance.

Are M cells immune cells?

In other words, M cells are antigen-delivery cells for the immune system in places like the intestine and lung, the first step in eliciting a mucosal immune response. The capture of lumenal antigens occurs through electrostatic interactions and by binding to a number of adhesion molecules on the surface of the M cell.

Are M cells lymphocytes?

M-cells are specialized epithelial cells of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues that transport antigens from the lumen to immune cells. Their basolateral surface is invaginated to form a pocket-like structure to which macrophages and lymphocytes migrate.

Which of the following is the function of M cells in intestine *?

Electronmicrograph of an M-cell from a Caco-2 coculture experiment displaying short irregular microvilli (Corr et al., 2006).

How do M cells function in malt?

Microfold cells (or M cells) are found in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) of the Peyer’s patches in the small intestine, and in the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) of other parts of the gastrointestinal tract. M cells express the protease cathepsin E, similar to other antigen-presenting cells.

Are M cells specific or nonspecific?

Such a response may be dominated by secretory immunoglobulin A release and may include cytotoxic T lymphocyte action. Binding of particles to the apical M cell membrane may be nonspecific or due to specific interaction between molecules such as integrins and lectins.

Do tonsils have M cells?

The tonsils have on their surface specialized antigen capture cells called Microfold cell (M cells) that allow for the uptake of antigens produced by pathogens. These M cells then alert the B cells and T cells in the tonsil that a pathogen is present and an immune response is stimulated.

What are M cells in ileum?

M cells (or microfold cells, a name given due to their unique structure) are specialized intestinal epithelial cells that are primarily found overlying GALT lymphoid follicles such as the Peyer’s patches in the ileum).