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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Development of Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissues

subject

description

The intestinal mucosa is one of our largest and most exposed body surfaces, thus creating a vital need for efficient immune responses. In order to coordinate those, the mucosal immune system comprises several organized lymphoid structures; the best-studied ones are mesenteric lymph nodes, Peyer’s patches, cryptopatches, and isolated lymphoid follicles. Their developmental requirements and time frames overlap to a certain extent, but are greatly divergent in many aspects. Furthermore, they can be influenced by a number of environmental impacts, such as food or the intestinal microbiota. In the following chapter we will try to shed some light on the processes that occur during the development of lymphoid structures in the intestinal tract.