Abstract
The gastrointestinal mucosa is a critical environmental interface where plasma cells and B cells are exposed to orally-ingested antigens such as food allergen proteins. It is unclear how the development of B cells and plasma cells in the gastrointestinal mucosa differs between healthy humans and those with food allergy, and how B cells contribute to, or are affected by, the breakdown of oral tolerance. In particular, the antibody gene repertoires associated with symptomatic allergy have only begun to be characterized in full molecular detail. Here, we review literature concerning B cells and plasma cells in the gastrointestinal system in the context of food allergy, with a focus on human studies.
Highlights
What is the anatomical origin of the B cells and plasma cells detected in the gut? Most B-lineage cells in lymph nodes and other secondary lymphoid tissues are thought to be derived from precursors that develop in the bone marrow, where they are exposed to self-antigens, and where autoreactive B cells are deleted from the repertoire [33]
Data from measurements of IgE constant region germline transcripts, mature IgE transcripts, class-switch recombination (CSR) excised DNA circles and switch circle transcripts, and the expression of factors required for CSR such as IL-4, IL-13 and AID, have indicated that local class-switching to IgE can occur in a variety of non-lymphoid tissues [52, 64,65,66]
Despite significant progress in increasing our understanding of B cell and plasma cell populations in the tissues of the GI tract, and ongoing enthusiasm for human studies motivated by clinical questions, a number of mysteries about the role of these cell populations in healthy immunity and in food allergy remain unanswered (Figure 1)
Summary
The gastrointestinal mucosa is a critical environmental interface where plasma cells and B cells are exposed to orally-ingested antigens such as food allergen proteins. It is unclear how the development of B cells and plasma cells in the gastrointestinal mucosa differs between healthy humans and those with food allergy, and how B cells contribute to, or are affected by, the breakdown of oral tolerance. The antibody gene repertoires associated with symptomatic allergy have only begun to be characterized in full molecular detail. We review literature concerning B cells and plasma cells in the gastrointestinal system in the context of food allergy, with a focus on human studies
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
