Conversion by Peyer's Patch Lymphocytes of Human Enterocytes into M Cells that Transport Bacteria

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 277; no. 5328; pp. 949 - 952
• Main Authors: Kernéis, Sophie, Bogdanova, Anna, Kraehenbuhl, Jean-Pierre, Pringault, Eric
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for the Advancement of Science 15.08.1997; American Association for the Advancement of Science; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Analysis of the immune response. Humoral and cellular immunity; Animals; B lymphocytes; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; Bacteria; Bacterial Translocation; Biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Caco 2 cells; Carrier Proteins - analysis; Cell lines; Cell Polarity; Coculture Techniques; Cytology; Digestive system; Enterocytes; Epithelial cells; Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Humans; Immunity (Disease); Immunity, Mucosal; Immunobiology; Individualized Instruction; Intestinal Mucosa - cytology; Intestinal Mucosa - immunology; Intestinal Mucosa - microbiology; Intestine. Mesentery; Logical Thinking; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes - immunology; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Microfilament Proteins - analysis; Microspheres; Microvilli; Microvilli - chemistry; Microvilli - ultrastructure; Organs and cells involved in the immune response; Peyer's Patches - cytology; Peyer's Patches - immunology; Sucrase-Isomaltase Complex - analysis; T lymphocytes; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Temperature; Vertebrates: digestive system; Vibrio cholerae; Vibrio cholerae - metabolism; Human; Translocation; Peyer patch; Immune response; Digestive system; Vibrio cholerae; Gut; In vitro; Membranous cell; Mixed cell culture; Local immunity; Bacteria; Epithelial cell; Vibrionaceae; Enterocyte; Models; Lymphocyte
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.277.5328.949

The epithelium that lines the gut is impermeable to macromolecules and microorganisms, except in Peyer's patches (PPs), where the lymphoid follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) contains M cells that transport antigens and microorganisms. A cultured system that reproduces the main characteristics of FAE and M cells was established by cultivation of PP lymphocytes with the differentiated human intestinal cell line Caco-2. Lymphocytes settled into the epithelial monolayer, inducing reorganization of the brush border and a temperature-dependent transport of particles and Vibrio cholerae. This model system could prove useful for intestinal physiology, vaccine research, and drug delivery studies.