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

作者：Sophie M. Kernéis, Anna A. Bogdanova, Jean-Pierre Kraehenbühl, Eric Pringault · 发表于：Science · 年份：1997 · DOI：10.1126/science.277.5328.949 · 被引用次数：631 · 研究领域：Escherichia coli research studies、Infant Nutrition and Health、Immune Cell Function and Interaction

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.