BOARD-INVITED REVIEW: Porcine mucosal immunity of the gastrointestinal tract1

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) constitutes one of the largest immunological organs of the body. The GIT must permit absorption of nutrients while also maintaining the ability to respond appropriately to a diverse milieu of dietary and microbial antigenic components. Because of the diverse population of antigenic components within the GIT, a sophisticated mucosal immune system has evolved that relies on collaboration between the innate and adaptive arms of immunity. The collaborative, mucosal immune effort offers protection from harmful pathogens while also being tolerant of dietary antigens and normal microbial flora. Knowledge with respect to porcine mucosal immunity is important as we strive to understand the interrelationships among GIT physiology, immunology, and the resident microbiota. The aim of this review is to provide a descriptive overview of GIT immunity and components of the mucosal immune system and to highlight differences that exist between the porcine species and other mammals.

The effect of in vivo exposure to zearalenone on cytokine secretion by Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes in porcine Peyer’s patches after in vitro stimulation with LPS

“…The immune response requires macrophages, antigen-presenting cells (APC) and T and B cells (Burkey et al 2009). When a supportive cytokine environment is not created in Peyer's patches due to various factors, the disrupted Th1/Th2 balance can have serious health implications because each cell population plays distinctive roles in the body.…”

Invited review: Aspects of gastrointestinal tract growth and maturation in the pre- and postweaning period of pigs

“…All components and accessory organs of the GIT are influenced by weaning, irrespective largely of weaning age; however, because of its size and biological importance, it is the small intestine that is affected the most and has to make the greatest anatomical, physiological, and immunological adaptation to changes in the pattern and form of feed consumption, changes in dietary substrates, and adjustment to stress (e.g., Stokes et al, 1994;Cranwell, 1995;Xu, 1996;Pluske et al, 1997;Zabielski et al, 1999;Burrin and Stoll, 2003;Pluske et al, 2003;Boudry et al, 2004;Lallès et al, 2004;Burkey et al, 2009;Wijtten et al, 2011Wijtten et al, , 2012Pluske, 2013). It is simply beyond the scope of this review to summarize all the changes to the GIT that occur in the periweaning period, with a plethora of authors having already described the rapid and consistent changes to structure (e.g., villous height and crypt depth, size and shape, tight junction integrity) and function (e.g., digestive and absorptive activity and capacity, loss of surface area, inflammation, antioxidant capacity) that occur in the acute and adaptive phases of growth in the periweaning period (Fig.…”

Immunoregulation: A Proposal for an Experimental Model

“…The population of lymphocytes that resides in the lamina propria has been classified as heterogeneous, and the organization of these cells is classified as random (Bailey et al, 2005). These characteristics are consistent with the effector function of lamina propria lymphocytes, which enables these cells to participate in immunosurveillance and to respond actively to potential pathogens (Burkey et al, 2009). Mixed population of T lymphocytes include helper CD4 + in adult swine settled in lamina propria of the villi and suppressor/cytotoxic CD8 + lymphocytes closer to epithelial cells (Vega-Lopez et al, 1993).…”