In intestinal inflammation, mucosal injury is often exacerbated by the reaction of NO with neutrophil-derived superoxide to form the potent oxidant peroxynitrite. Peroxynitrite also has antimicrobial properties that aid in the killing mechanism of macrophages and neutrophils. Cryptosporidium parvum parasitizes intestinal epithelium, resulting in loss of epithelial cells and mucosal inflammation...

Epithelial cells represent the first line of host immune defense at mucosal surfaces. Although opioids appear to increase host susceptibility to infection, no studies have examined opioid effects on epithelial immune functions. We tested the hypothesis that morphine alters vectorial cytokine secretion from intestinal epithelial cell (IPEC-J2) monolayers in response to enteropathogens. Both ente...

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a major cause of both mucosal and invasive human infections. Epithelial and leukocyte production of cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is an important aspect of mammalian innate immune defense against bacterial infection. In this study, we identify a specific GAS phenotype that confers resistance to host AMPs. Inactivation of the dltA gene in an invasive serot...

In this review the updated information concerning the influence of portal hypertension on gastric mucosa is presented. The term portal hypertensive gastropathy [PHG] defines a wide spectrum of endoscopic lesions that appear in the gastric mucosa of cirrhotic patients and which should be differentiated from gastric antral vascular ectasia. These endoscopic findings correspond to dilated mucosal ...

The mucosal surface of the body is exposed to a vast array of exogenous antigens and microorganisms. Epithelial cells evoke minimal immune response to food ingredients and commensal bacteria, while they release an array of antimicrobial peptides and CXC chemokines in response to bacterial invasion or inflammatory stimuli. The mucosal antigens are transported from the gut lumen to organized lymp...

In recent years, studies on the mucosal immunity in fish species have shown much progress. Although there are some organs such as skin, gills, and gut are directly associated with the mucosal immunity of fish species, this mini review emphasizes the general knowledge on the role and production figures of skin mucus and factors affecting the secretion of skin mucus of fish species. As the skin m...

o Anatomically  Length of urethra  Presence of high pressure zones in urethra  Urethral and ureteral peristalsis  Vesicoureteral flaps  Extensive renal blood supply and flow o Mucosal defense barriers  Glycosaminoglycan layer  Antibody production  Intrinsic mucosal antimicrobial properties  Exfoliation of cells  Commensal non-pathogenic microbes in distal urogenital tract o Compositio...

Toll-like receptor (TLR) 5 has been shown to maintain intestinal homeostasis and regulate host defense against enterobacterial infection. However, how TLR5 expression is regulated and its function in the intestine have not been fully elucidated. Here we demonstrate that mucosal dendritic cells (DCs), but not splenic DCs, express high levels of TLR5 protein. Alternatively spliced Tlr5 transcript...

Mucosal barriers separate self from non-self and are essential for life. These barriers, which are the first line of defense against external pathogens, are formed by epithelial cells and the substances they secrete. Rather than an absolute barrier, epithelia at mucosal surfaces must allow selective paracellular flux that discriminates between solutes and water while preventing the passage of b...

In the past decade, several model systems have been developed to study the details of the production of secretory IgA by the mucosal surface. Until recently, most attention in vaccine research has been directed toward establishing a vigorous systemic (predominantly IgG) humoral immune response to the infectious agent. With the recognition, however, that secretory IgA is overwhelmingly the predo...