The mucosal surfaces of the gastrointestinal, reproductive and respiratory tracts are in direct contact with the external environment and are therefore susceptible to invasion by pathogens.
The mucosal immune system must balance the need to respond to such pathogens with maintaining a harmonious relationship with commensal bacteria and innocuous environmental antigens. This Focus highlights the latest research providing insights into global infections, mucosal vaccines, immune regulation and its relationship to inflammation, various diseases of mucosal tissues such as inflammatory bowel disease, and the immunological importance of epithelial cells.
Foreword
Mucosal matters
Gerald T. Nepom
doi:10.1038/nri2342
Nature Reviews Immunology 8, 409 (2008)
Research Highlights
Mucosal vaccines: NKT cells help fight flu
Lucy Bird
doi:10.1038/nri2345
Nature Reviews Immunology 8, 402-403 (2008)
T-cell responses: DCs get KITted out
Lucy Bird
doi:10.1038/nri2346
Nature Reviews Immunology 8, 406 (2008)
In Brief
doi:10.1038/nri2349
Nature Reviews Immunology 8, 401 (2008)
Reviews
Epithelial-cell recognition of commensal bacteria and maintenance of immune homeostasis in the gut
David Artis
doi:10.1038/nri2316
Nature Reviews Immunology 8, 411-420 (2008)
It was thought that intestinal epithelial cells functioned solely as a barrier to the external environment, but as described here, these cells are now known to have an integral role in facilitating and controlling crosstalk between commensal bacteria and the immune system.
The regulation of IgA class switching
Andrea Cerutti
doi:10.1038/nri2322
Nature Reviews Immunology 8, 421-434 (2008)
IgA is the most abundant antibody class and provides a first line of defence at mucosal surfaces. Class switching to IgA occurs through both T-cell-dependent and T-cell-independent pathways, and recent studies reveal a role for commensal bacteria in intestinal IgA responses.
Dendritic cells in intestinal immune regulation
Janine L. Coombes & Fiona Powrie
doi:10.1038/nri2335
Nature Reviews Immunology 8, 435-446 (2008)
A delicate balance between tolerance to commensal bacteria and immunity to pathogens occurs in the intestine. Intestinal dendritic cells have a central role in maintaining this balance and, as described here, some of the molecular pathways involved have recently been resolved.
Setting the stage: host invasion by HIV
Florian Hladik & M. Juliana McElrath
doi:10.1038/nri2302
Nature Reviews Immunology 8, 447-457 (2008)
Infection by HIV requires the virus to breach the mucosal barrier to gain access to the immune cells that it infects. But what are the immediate events that follow HIV exposure at genital mucosal sites and what are the key cells that facilitate HIV invasion?
The genetics and immunopathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease
Judy H. Cho
doi:10.1038/nri2340
Nature Reviews Immunology 8, 458-466 (2008)
Great progress has been made recently in the identification of genes or genetic loci that are associated with inflammatory bowel diseases. This knowledge is now providing insight into the pathogenesis of these diseases, highlighting roles for genes involved in bacterial sensing and cytokine signalling.
© 2018 Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature. All Rights Reserved.
