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Difference between revisions of "Microfold Cells"

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M cells are seen in epithelial cells of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues.  
M cells are seen in epithelial cells of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues.  
'''Microfold cells''' (or '''M cells''') are found in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) of the Peyer's patches in the small intestine, and in the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) of other parts of the gastrointestinal tract.
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|Peyer's patches in the small intestine
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|MALT - Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue
|Other parts of the gastrointestinal tract.
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== What is function of the M Cells? ==
== What is function of the M Cells? ==

Revision as of 20:24, 2 March 2022

Microfold  Cells or M Cells

Where the M Cells present?

Microfold  Cells or M Cells are present in follicle-associated epithelium (FAE)

Follicle -associated epithelium is a specialized epithelium present over  Peyer’s  patch in small intestine and isolated lymphoid follicles.

M cells are seen in epithelial cells of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues.

Microfold cells (or M cells) are found in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) of the Peyer's patches in the small intestine, and in the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) of other parts of the gastrointestinal tract.

Microfold cells (or M cells) are found
GALT - Gut-associated lymphoid tissue Peyer's patches in the small intestine
MALT - Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue Other parts of the gastrointestinal tract.

What is function of the M Cells?

M cells helps to transport antigens from intestinal lumen to  immune system cells, and starts

an immune response or tolerance.

M cells function are phagocytosis and transcytosis. M cells are capable of taking up large particulate antigens from the lumen and transporting them intact into the subepithelial space.

What is function of the M Cells in polio virus infection?

M cells express lectin-like molecules in the apical surface. These molecules  help to promote binding to specific pathogens such as poliovirus.

What is the mechanism where M cells involved with IgA response in payer patches?

Antigens that bind to the M cell and are transported to the underlying Peyer patches generally elicit a positive (IgA) response.

M cell helps to connect  Peyer patches and lymphoid follicles as conduit.

Once antigens enter the Peyer patch, TGF-β-secreting T cells promote B cell isotype switching to IgA.


If Peyer patch B cells are absent then  M cells are also absent. [M cells have not seen in B cell–deficient animals, which lack Peyer patches]

Peyer  patches have T cell-dependent areas and B cell-dependent/germinal centers typical of lymph nodes, but only efferent lymphatics.