TABLE 2
FROM:
Terminology: nomenclature of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue
P Brandtzaeg, H Kiyono, R Pabst and M W Russell
BACK TO ARTICLETable 2. Recommended nomenclature for mucosa-associated immune-cell compartments
| Preferred abbreviations | Explanations |
|---|---|
| LP | Lamina propria |
| Refers usually to the connective tissue of gut mucosa, restricted to the stroma above the muscularis mucosae (thus excluding the submucosa), but can also be used in relation to other mucosae | |
| IEL compartment | Surface epithelium |
| Refers usually to the epithelium of the small intestine where most intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) occur | |
| FAE | Follicle-associated epithelium |
| Covers the domes of MALT structures and contains variable numbers of M cells | |
| MALT | Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue |
| The principal inductive sites for mucosal immune responses, subdivided according to anatomical location as below | |
| GALT | Gut-associated lymphoid tissue |
| PP | Peyer's patch |
| ILF | Isolated (solitary) lymphoid follicle |
| PPs and ILFs constitute the major part of GALT, but also the appendix is included although functionally less explored | |
| NALT | Nasopharynx (or nose)-associated lymphoid tissue |
| In humans, NALT consists of the lymphoid tissue of Waldeyer's pharyngeal ring, including the adenoids (the unpaired nasopharyngeal tonsil) and the paired palatine tonsils. Rodents lack tonsils, but have paired NALT structures dorsally in the floor of the nasal cavity | |
| BALT | Bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue |
| Not generally present in the normal lungs of adult humans | |
| MLN | Mesenteric lymph node |
| CLN | Cervical lymph node |
| Should be specified as deep or superficial |
More details can be found in ref. 1