ISSN:
1432-0568
Keywords:
Key words M cell
;
Tonsil
;
Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue
;
Lectins
;
Glycoconjugates
;
Confocal laser scanning microscopy
;
Rabbit
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract The crypt epithelium of the palatine tonsil contains M cells that play an important role in the uptake of luminal antigens to initiate immune responses. To study the close interaction of M cells, squamous epithelial cells and lymphocytes we used confocal laser scanning microscopy and the lectin from Ulex europaeus (UEA-I), which selectively labels rabbit tonsillar M cells. Confocal serial sections and synthetic section planes showed that the M cells comprise up to 35% of the epithelial cells in the tonsil crypt and completely engulf clusters of two to eight lymphocytes with their apical cytoplasm. These lymphocytes lie in a pocket of the M cell’s basolateral membrane that invaginates from one of the lateral aspects and forms a tunnel-like opening. Therefore, the tonsillar M cells closely resemble the M cells of the small and large intestines in their spatial structure, and likewise maintain an intraepithelial compartment for the interaction of lymphocytes, macrophages and antigens. The UEA-I bound intensely to the apical membrane of the M cells and to transcytotic vesicles in the apical cytoplasm. The pocket membrane bound the UEA-I more avidly than the remaining basolateral membrane, suggesting that the basolateral membrane of M cells is subdivided into membrane domains with different compositions of glycoconjugates.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004290050055
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