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Gut as the Largest Immunologic Tissue
Author(s) -
Takahashi Ichiro,
Kiyono Hiroshi
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.935
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1941-2444
pISSN - 0148-6071
DOI - 10.1177/014860719902300503
Subject(s) - immune system , immunology , mucosal immunity , biology , mucosal immunology , secretory iga , first line , respiratory tract , antibody , mucous membrane , inflammation , medicine , immunity , respiratory system , anatomy
The host is continuously exposed to the environment via the mucosal surface. To this end, a large number of infectious agents, allergens and foreign proteins enter the inside of our bodies via the oral region, nasal and upper respiratory tracts, intestine and reproductive tract. The total area of these mucosal surfaces, which cover these tube‐like tissues are at least two hundred times larger than those of skin. To provide an optimal first line of defense for these large surface areas, the mucosal immune system including secretory immunoglobulin A (S‐IgA), mucosal αβ and γδ T‐cells and epithelium play an essential role. The goal of our research is aimed at understanding the molecular and cellular aspects of the mucosal immune system and their defense against infectious diseases, inflammation and immunological disorders. Further, it is important to quickly apply our fundamental findings of the mucosal immune system to the development of mucosal vaccines. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition23:S7‐S12, 1999)