Gustafsson Jenny K, Hansson Gunnar C
Department of Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; email:
Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; email:
Annu Rev Immunol. 2025 Apr;43(1):169-189. doi: 10.1146/annurev-immunol-101721-065224. Epub 2025 Jan 3.
The mucosal surfaces of the body are the most vulnerable points for infection because they are lined by single or multiple layers of very active epithelial cells. The main protector of these cells is the mucus system generated by the specialized goblet cell secreting its main components, the gel-forming mucins. The organization of the mucus varies from an attached mucus that is impenetrable to bacteria in the large intestine to a nonattached, more penetrable mucus in the small intestine. The respiratory tract mucus system clears particles and microorganisms from healthy lungs but causes disease if reorganized to an attached mucus that cannot be efficiently transported. Similarly, transformation of large intestine mucus from impenetrable to penetrable causes chronic inflammation directed toward the intestinal microbiota. Mucus-producing goblet cells are regulated by and responsive to signals from immune cells, and at the same time signal back to the immune system. In this review we focus on the relationship of immune cells with intestinal goblet cells and mucus, making parallels to the respiratory tract.
身体的黏膜表面是最易受感染的部位，因为它们由单层或多层非常活跃的上皮细胞构成。这些细胞的主要保护者是由专门的杯状细胞产生的黏液系统，杯状细胞分泌其主要成分——形成凝胶的黏蛋白。黏液的组织结构各不相同，从大肠中对细菌不可渗透的附着性黏液到小肠中不附着、更具渗透性的黏液。呼吸道黏液系统可清除健康肺部的颗粒和微生物，但如果重组为无法有效运输的附着性黏液，则会引发疾病。同样，大肠黏液从不可渗透转变为可渗透会导致针对肠道微生物群的慢性炎症。产生黏液的杯状细胞受免疫细胞信号的调节并对其作出反应，同时也会向免疫系统发出信号。在本综述中，我们重点关注免疫细胞与肠道杯状细胞及黏液的关系，并与呼吸道进行对比。
