Regular Article
The composition and function of M cell apical membranes: Implications for microbial pathogenesisā˜†

https://doi.org/10.1006/smim.1999.0173Get rights and content

Abstract

M cells, an epithelial cell phenotype that occurs only over organized mucosal lymphoid follicles, deliver samples of foreign material by transepithelial transport from the lumen to organized lymphoid tissues within the mucosa of the small and large intestines. The apical membranes of M cells in the intestine are designed to facilitate adherence and uptake of antigens and microorganisms, a prerequisite for immunolog- ical sampling. The molecular features of M cell apical surfaces that promote adherence and transport are crucial for understanding the strategies that pathogens use to exploit this pathway.

References (87)

  • JH Eldridge et al.

    Biodegradable microspheres as a vaccine delivery system

    Mol Immunol

    (1991)
  • A Siebers et al.

    M cells and the pathogenesis of mucosal and systemic infections

    Trends Microbiol

    (1996)
  • MS Donnenberg et al.

    Interactions between enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and host epithelial cells

    Trends Microbiol

    (1997)
  • JJ Mekalanos et al.

    Live cholera vaccines: perspectives on their construction and safety

    Bull Inst Pasteur

    (1995)
  • MA Clark et al.

    Preferential interaction of Salmonella typhimurium with mouse Peyer's patch M cells

    Res Microbiol

    (1994)
  • RO Hynes

    Integrins: versatility, modulation and signalling in cell ahhesion

    Cell

    (1992)
  • CL Mendelsohn et al.

    Cellular receptor for poliovirus: molecular cloning, nucleotide sequence, and expression of a new member of the immunoglobulin superfamily

    Cell

    (1989)
  • MR Neutra et al.

    Antigen sampling across epithelial barriers and induction of mucosal immune responses

    Annu Rev Immunol

    (1996)
  • MR Neutra et al.
  • A Gebert et al.

    Co-localization of vimentin and cytokeratins in M-cells of rabbit gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT)

    Cell Tissue Res

    (1992)
  • A Gebert et al.

    Cytokeratin 18 is an M cell marker in porcine Peyer's patches

    Cell Tissue Res

    (1994)
  • M Mooseker

    Organization, chemistry and assembly of the cytoskeletal apparatus of the intestinal brush border

    Ann Rev Cell Biol

    (1985)
  • S Ito

    Form and function of the glycocalyx on free cell surfaces

    Philos Trans R Soc London Biol

    (1974)
  • J Maury et al.

    The filamentous brush border glycocalyx, a mucin-like marker of enterocyte hyper-polarization

    Eur J Biochem

    (1995)
  • G Semenza

    Anchoring and biosynthesis of stalked brush border membrane glycoproteins

    Annu Rev Cell Biol

    (1986)
  • RA Weltzin et al.

    Binding and transepithelial transport of immunoglobulins by intestinal M cells: demonstration using monoclonal IgA antibodies against enteric viral proteins

    J Cell Biol

    (1989)
  • A Frey et al.

    Role of the glycocalyx in regulating access of microparticles to apical plasma membranes of intestinal epithelial cells: implications for microbial attachment and oral vaccine targeting

    J Exp Med

    (1996)
  • MR Neutra et al.

    Transport of membrane-bound macromolecules by M cells in follicle-associated epithelium of rabbit Peyer's patch

    Cell Tissue Res

    (1987)
  • WA Bye et al.

    Structure, distribution and origin of M cells in Peyer's patches of mouse ileum

    Gastroenterology

    (1984)
  • DE Bockman et al.

    Pinocytosis by epithelium associated with lymphoid follicles in the bursa of Fabricius, appendix, and Peyer's patches. An electron microscopic study

    Am J Anat

    (1973)
  • MR Neutra et al.
  • BD Jones et al.

    Salmonella typhimurium initiates murine infection by penetrating and destroying the specialized epithelial M cells of the Peyer's patches

    J Exp Med

    (1994)
  • RL Owen et al.

    Cytochemical analysis of alkaline phosphatase and esterase activities and of lectin-binding and anionic sites in rat and mouse Peyer's patch M cells

    Am J Anat

    (1983)
  • TC Savidge et al.
  • H Lelouard et al.

    Mucin related epitopes distinguish M cells and enterocytes in rabbit appendix and Peyer's patches

    Infect Immun

    (1999)
  • MA Clark et al.

    Differential expression of lectin-binding sites defines mouse intestinal M-cells

    J Histochem Cytochem

    (1993)
  • PJ Giannasca et al.

    Regional differences in glycoconjugates of intestinal M cells in mice: potential targets for mucosal vaccines

    Am J Physiol

    (1994)
  • MA Jepson et al.

    Targeting to intestinal M cells

    J Anat

    (1996)
  • H Chen et al.

    Lectin-bearing polymerized liposomes as potential oral vaccine carriers

    Pharm Res

    (1996)
  • PJ Giannasca et al.

    Targeted delivery of antigen to hamster nasal lymphoid tissue with M-cell-directed lectins

    Infect Immun

    (1997)
  • U Brinck et al.

    Lectin-binding sites in the epithelium of normal human appendix veriformis and in acute appendicitis

    Histol Histopathol

    (1995)
  • R Sharma et al.

    Lectin binding reveals divergent carbohydrate expression in human and mouse Peyer's patches

    Histochem Cell Biol

    (1996)
  • PJ Giannasca et al.

    Human intestinal M cells display the sialyl Lewis A antigen

    Infect Immun

    (1999)
  • Cited by (102)

    • Mucosal Immunity

      2018, Comprehensive Toxicology: Third Edition
    • Oral absorption of peptides and nanoparticles across the human intestine: Opportunities, limitations and studies in human tissues

      2016, Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews
      Citation Excerpt :

      In addition, the glycocalyx of the goblet cells contains MUC4 that is exclusively expressed by these cells [12,42]. Using transmission electron microscopy, it has been shown that the glycocalyx is pronounced over enterocytes, but of much lesser thickness over microfold cells, M-cells which are epithelial cells covering the lymphoid follicles in the intestine [43,44]. In addition to mucins, the mucus layers also contain large amounts of enzymes with the capacity to break down sugars, lipids and proteins to provide digested nutrients for absorption by the enterocytes (see Section 3.1).

    • Mucosal physical and chemical innate barriers: Lessons from microbial evasion strategies

      2015, Seminars in Immunology
      Citation Excerpt :

      An additional strategy commonly used by enteric pathogens is to avoid the mucus barrier. Intestinal M cells, which capture and present microbes to the underlying antigen-presenting cells, can be seen as a port of entry in the mucus barrier [19]. Indeed, the dome epithelium in which M cells lie lacks mucus producing cells, and therefore is not covered by a thick mucus layer.

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    ā˜†

    Unspecified

    View full text