Biomaterial Database

An overview of intestinal immunity and malabsorption. 1979

W F Doe

Intestinal immune responses are adapted to function at external mucosal surfaces. Specialized forms of antibody, secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin M (IgM), provid humoral immunity but little is known of local cell mediated immune reactions. Antigens in the intestinal lumen gain preferential access via Peyer's patches in which sensitised lymphocytes proliferate before entering the lymphatic system. These lymphoblasts return to the intestinal mucosa via the bloodstream to provide predominantly IgA antibody responses. Secretory IgA antibody can neutralize viruses, bacteria and toxins, and appears to block the entry of some food antigens into the lamina propria. Disturbances of intestinal immunity may result in malabsorption. Immunodeficiency states are often associated with malabsorption due to Giardia lamblia infestation. In alpha chain disease there is a malignant expansion of plasma cells in the intestinal mucosa which secrete an abnormal heavy chain fragment of IgA. Arthus type hypersensitivity reactions to milk proteins and gluten may contribute to the mucosal injury in patients suffering from milk allergy and coeliac disease.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006967	Hypersensitivity	Altered reactivity to an antigen, which can result in pathologic reactions upon subsequent exposure to that particular antigen.	Allergy,Allergic Reaction,Allergic Reactions,Allergies,Hypersensitivities,Reaction, Allergic,Reactions, Allergic
D007071	Immunoglobulin A, Secretory	The principle immunoglobulin in exocrine secretions such as milk, respiratory and intestinal mucin, saliva and tears. The complete molecule (around 400 kD) is composed of two four-chain units of IMMUNOGLOBULIN A, one SECRETORY COMPONENT and one J chain (IMMUNOGLOBULIN J-CHAINS).	Colostral IgA,IgA, Exocrine,IgA, Secretory,SIgA,Secretory IgA,Secretory Immunoglobulin A,Exocrine IgA,IgA, Colostral
D007111	Immunity, Cellular	Manifestations of the immune response which are mediated by antigen-sensitized T-lymphocytes via lymphokines or direct cytotoxicity. This takes place in the absence of circulating antibody or where antibody plays a subordinate role.	Cell-Mediated Immunity,Cellular Immune Response,Cell Mediated Immunity,Cell-Mediated Immunities,Cellular Immune Responses,Cellular Immunities,Cellular Immunity,Immune Response, Cellular,Immune Responses, Cellular,Immunities, Cell-Mediated,Immunities, Cellular,Immunity, Cell-Mediated,Response, Cellular Immune
D007137	Immunoglobulin alpha-Chains	The class of heavy chains found in IMMUNOGLOBULIN A. They have a molecular weight of approximately 58 kDa and contain about 470 amino acid residues arranged in four domains and an oligosaccharide component bound covalently to their Fc fragment constant region.	Ig alpha Chains,Immunoglobulins, alpha-Chain,Immunoglobulin alpha-Chain,alpha-Chain Immunoglobulins,alpha-Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain,alpha-Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains,Chains, Ig alpha,Heavy Chain, alpha-Immunoglobulin,Heavy Chains, alpha-Immunoglobulin,Immunoglobulin alpha Chain,Immunoglobulin alpha Chains,Immunoglobulins, alpha Chain,alpha Chain Immunoglobulins,alpha Chains, Ig,alpha Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain,alpha Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains,alpha-Chain, Immunoglobulin,alpha-Chains, Immunoglobulin
D007153	Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes	Syndromes in which there is a deficiency or defect in the mechanisms of immunity, either cellular or humoral.	Antibody Deficiency Syndrome,Deficiency Syndrome, Immunologic,Deficiency Syndromes, Antibody,Deficiency Syndromes, Immunologic,Immunologic Deficiency Syndrome,Immunological Deficiency Syndromes,Antibody Deficiency Syndromes,Deficiency Syndrome, Antibody,Deficiency Syndrome, Immunological,Deficiency Syndromes, Immunological,Immunological Deficiency Syndrome,Syndrome, Antibody Deficiency,Syndrome, Immunologic Deficiency,Syndrome, Immunological Deficiency,Syndromes, Antibody Deficiency,Syndromes, Immunologic Deficiency,Syndromes, Immunological Deficiency
D007411	Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic	Infections of the INTESTINES with PARASITES, commonly involving PARASITIC WORMS. Infections with roundworms (NEMATODE INFECTIONS) and tapeworms (CESTODE INFECTIONS) are also known as HELMINTHIASIS.	Parasitic Intestinal Diseases,Disease, Parasitic Intestinal,Diseases, Parasitic Intestinal,Intestinal Disease, Parasitic,Parasitic Intestinal Disease
D007413	Intestinal Mucosa	Lining of the INTESTINES, consisting of an inner EPITHELIUM, a middle LAMINA PROPRIA, and an outer MUSCULARIS MUCOSAE. In the SMALL INTESTINE, the mucosa is characterized by a series of folds and abundance of absorptive cells (ENTEROCYTES) with MICROVILLI.	Intestinal Epithelium,Intestinal Glands,Epithelium, Intestinal,Gland, Intestinal,Glands, Intestinal,Intestinal Gland,Mucosa, Intestinal
D007414	Intestinal Neoplasms	Tumors or cancer of the INTESTINES.	Cancer of Intestines,Intestinal Cancer,Cancer of the Intestines,Intestines Cancer,Intestines Neoplasms,Neoplasms, Intestinal,Cancer, Intestinal,Cancer, Intestines,Cancers, Intestinal,Cancers, Intestines,Intestinal Cancers,Intestinal Neoplasm,Intestines Cancers,Intestines Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Intestinal,Neoplasm, Intestines,Neoplasms, Intestines
D007419	Intestinal Secretions	Fluids originating from the epithelial lining of the intestines, adjoining exocrine glands and from organs such as the liver, which empty into the cavity of the intestines.	Intestinal Secretion,Secretion, Intestinal,Secretions, Intestinal
D008223	Lymphoma	A general term for various neoplastic diseases of the lymphoid tissue.	Germinoblastoma,Lymphoma, Malignant,Reticulolymphosarcoma,Sarcoma, Germinoblastic,Germinoblastic Sarcoma,Germinoblastic Sarcomas,Germinoblastomas,Lymphomas,Lymphomas, Malignant,Malignant Lymphoma,Malignant Lymphomas,Reticulolymphosarcomas,Sarcomas, Germinoblastic