Intestinal epithelial and mucosal immune system

The intestinal epithelial and mucosal immune system is a complex physiological compartment that functions as the primary interface between the internal host environment and external antigens (Mowat & Agace, 2014, Nature Reviews Immunology). It consists of a specialized epithelial barrier and the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), which together coordinate immune surveillance and maintain homeostasis through the regulation of commensal microbiota and food antigens (Zeissig & Blumberg, 2014, Nature). This system is central to the pathogenesis of various gastrointestinal disorders, most notably Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), where a breakdown in barrier integrity and dysregulated immune signaling lead to chronic inflammation (Neurath, 2014, Nature Reviews Immunology). While the system itself is not a single molecular target, it contains numerous specific proteins—such as TNF-alpha, IL-12/23, and alpha4beta7 integrin—that serve as targets for modern therapeutic agents like Infliximab and Vedolizumab (Danese et al., 2015, Gut). These treatments aim to suppress pathological immune activation and promote mucosal healing to restore the system's integrity (Ungaro et al., 2017, The Lancet).

Other names

Gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT)Intestinal mucosal barrierGastrointestinal immune systemMucosal immune system

Therapeutic strategies targeting this system involve the neutralization of pro-inflammatory cytokines, the prevention of immune cell infiltration into the gut mucosa via adhesion molecule blockade, and the modulation of intracellular signaling to reduce inflammatory gene expression (Neurath, 2017, Nature Reviews Immunology).