Immune response in gastrointestinal tract

The "immune response in gastrointestinal tract" refers to the coordinated actions of immune cells (such as T cells, B cells, dendritic cells, macrophages, and innate lymphoid cells), epithelial cells, antimicrobial peptides, and secretory immunoglobulins that collectively defend the gut from pathogens while maintaining tolerance to food and commensal microbes[1][2][3][5]. This system includes both innate and adaptive immunity, involving mechanisms such as physical barrier maintenance (tight junctions, mucus layer), antimicrobial secretion (α-defensins, lysozyme), immune cell recruitment via chemokine receptors, antigen presentation, immunoglobulin production (notably secretory IgA), and tissue repair processes[1][2][3][5]. Dysregulation of the GI immune response is implicated in diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, gastrointestinal infections, and GI tract cancers, where various cellular and molecular targets may become relevant for therapy or biomarker use[2][4][6]. Multiple specific therapeutic targets exist within this broad category (e.g., chemokine receptors like CCR9 and integrins, cytokines like TNF-α, IL-22, immune checkpoints, and antimicrobial peptide pathways), but "immune response in gastrointestinal tract" as such is not a valid singular molecular target for drug development[2][6].

Other names

Gut immune responseGastrointestinal immune responseMucosal immune response (GI tract)