M cells at locations outside the gut

doi:10.1006/smim.1999.0172

Seminars in Immunology

Volume 11, Issue 3, June 1999, Pages 165-170

https://doi.org/10.1006/smim.1999.0172 Get rights and content

Abstract

Lymphoid tissue associated with mucosal membranes is found not only along the gastrointestinal tract, but also in the tonsils, the upper and lower airways, and the conjunc- tiva of the eye. The epithelia overlying this mucosa-associ- ated lymphoid tissue (MALT) contain membranous (M) cells which transport antigenic matter across the mucosal membrane to initiate immune responses. Although the mor- phology and function of intestinal M cells have been thoroughly studied, relatively little is known about the pres- ence and properties of M cells in MALT outside the gut. The available data on ultrastructure, histochemistry, and anti- gen sampling function of the epithelia in tonsils, nasal-, larynx-, bronchus-, and conjunctiva-associated lymphoid tis- sue are reviewed and critically discussed. It is concluded that, in principle, the concepts of mucosal immune protec- tion can be applied to these sites of MALT. However, it is questionable whether a separate cell type similar to intestinal M cells exists and performs antigen sampling in the differ- ent MALT epithelia. Further studies combining functional and morphological techniques are essential to understand the initiation of immune reaction at the mucosal mem- branes.

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Regular ArticleM cells at locations outside the gut☆

Abstract

Int Rev Cytol

Gastroenterology

Cell

Gastroenterology

Immunol Today

Immunol Today

Arch Oral Biol

Arch Oral Biol

Immunol Today

Transport of membrane-bound macromolecules by M cells in follicle-associated epithelium of rabbit Peyer's patch

Cell Tissue Res

The development of M cells in Peyer's patches is restricted to specialized dome-associated crypts

Am J Pathol

Molecular and cellular basis of immun e protection of mucosal surfaces

Physiol Rev

Lymphocyte positions in the dome epithelium of the rabbit appendix

J Morphol

Immune cells associated with M cells in the follicle-associated epithelium of Peyer's patches in the rat. An electron- and immuno-electron-microscopic study

Cell Tissue Res

Functional histology of appendix

Arch Histol Jpn

The role of M cells in the protection of mucosal membranes

Histochem Cell Biol

Skin-associated lymphoid tissues (SALT): origins and functions

J Invest Dermatol

Lymphoid tissue of the normal fallopian tube — a form of mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)?

Int J Gynecol Pathol

The immunopathology of M cells

Springer Semin Immunopathol

Is the bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) an integral structure of the lung in normal mammals, including humans?

Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol

Bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) in human fetal and infant lung

J Pathol

The human adenoid. A morphologic study

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg

Surface epithelium of the rabbit palatine tonsil: scanning and transmission electron micro- scopic study

J Reticuloendothel Soc

Identification of M-cells in the rabbit tonsil by vimentin immuno-histochemistry and in vivo protein transport

Histochem Cell Biol

The epithelium of canine palatine tonsils

Anat Embryol

Electronmicroscopic observations on the antigen reception in the tonsillar tissue

Acta Biol Acad Sci Hung

The palatine tonsil of the pig—an afferent route to the lymphoid tissue

J Anat

The rabbit M-cell marker vimentin is present in epithelial cells of the tonsil crypt

Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh)

M-cells in the rabbit tonsil exhibit distinctive glycoconjugates in their apical membrane

J Histochem Cytochem

Scanning and transmission electron microscopy on the epithelium of human palatine tonsils

J Pathol

M-cells in the epithelium of the nasopharyngeal tonsil

Rhinology

Antigen processing structures of the mammalian intestinal tract: an SEM study of lympho- epithelial organs

Scanning Electron Microsc

Organization of lymphoid tissue in the ton silla lingualis. An ultrastructural study in Macaca fascicularis (Primates, Cercopithecoidea)

Cell Tissue Res

Structure of the crypt epithelium in human palatine tonsils

Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) Suppl.

The specialised structure of crypt epithelium in the human palatine tonsil and its functional significance

J Anat

Identification o f cell subpopulations in human tonsillar epithelium

J Anat

Regular Article
M cells at locations outside the gut☆