The relationship between intestinal goblet cells and the immune response.

Mingming Zhang,Chenchen Wu

doi:10.1042/bsr20201471

Abstract

Goblet cells (GCs) are single-cell glands that produce and secrete mucin. Mucin forms a mucus layer, which can separate the materials in cavities from the intestinal epithelium and prevent the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms in various ways. GCs can also participate in the immune response through nonspecific endocytosis and goblet cell-associated antigen passages (GAPs). GCs endocytose soluble substances from the lumen and transmit antigens to the underlying antigen-presenting cells (APCs). A variety of immuno-regulatory factors can promote the differentiation, maturation of GCs, and the secretion of mucin. The mucin secreted by GCs forms a mucus layer, which plays an important role in resisting the invasion of foreign bacteria and intestinal inherent microorganisms, regulating the immune performance of the body. Therefore, the present study mainly reviews the barrier function of the mucus layer, the mucus secreted by goblet cells, the protective effect against pathogenic bacteria, the delivery of luminal substances through GAPs and the relationship between GCs and the immune response.

Highlights

The intestine is one of the important digestive organs of the human and animal body, but there are large numbers of bacteria, viruses and parasites in the intestine, which is a potential source of infection [1]
Mucin can prevent the loss of Secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) antibody molecules on the intestinal cavity side of epithelial cells because sIgA can interact with mucin and bacterial cell surface proteins to stabilize the bacterial biofilm [7]. sIgA in the mucus layer will be phagocytosed and cleared by macrophages after binding to bacteria or antigens
Secretory immunoglobulin A is the main immunoglobulin on the intestinal mucosal surface and plays an important role in preventing the attachment and colonization of pathogenic bacteria and protecting the gastrointestinal mucosa [38,39]. sIgA is secreted into the intestinal cavity and is mixed in the mucous layer, which covers the surface of epithelial cells and binds microorganisms or food antigens to form antigen–antibody complexes, facilitates phagocytosis and removal of macrophages. sIgA cannot bind to mucus in the absence of carbohydrates and cannot stop infections caused by bacteria in a murine respiratory infection model [40]

Summary

Introduction

The intestine is one of the important digestive organs of the human and animal body, but there are large numbers of bacteria, viruses and parasites in the intestine, which is a potential source of infection [1]. Secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) is the main immunoglobulin on the intestinal mucosal surface and plays an important role in preventing the attachment and colonization of pathogenic bacteria and protecting the gastrointestinal mucosa [38,39]. SIgA is secreted into the intestinal cavity and is mixed in the mucous layer, which covers the surface of epithelial cells and binds microorganisms or food antigens to form antigen–antibody complexes, facilitates phagocytosis and removal of macrophages. It was demonstrated that sIgA anchored the outer mucous layer by acting in conjunction with mucinous proteins and intestinal bacteria [41], playing a role in the immune defense to germs and maintaining a mutually beneficial symbiosis with symbiotic bacteria, protecting epithelial cells. It is stored in particles in the GCs, and after being

Result

Findings

Conclusion