Intestinal epithelial cell chemokine receptor expressed

Wurbel MA, Philippe JM, Nguyen C, et al. The chemokine TECK is expressed by thymic and intestinal epithelial cells and attracts double- and single-positive thymocytes expressing the TECK receptor CCR9. Eur J Immunol 2000 30 262-271. 

Intestinal mucosal cells also can activate mediators of inflammation. Intestinal epithelial cells express an array of cytokine receptors and produce a spectrum of immune mediators, suggesting that they play an integral role in mucosal innate and acquired immunity (Dwinell et al 1999). Consistent with those functions, human intestinal epithelial cells have been shown to upregu-late the expression and secretion of a variety of proinflammatory chemokines in response to infection with enteroinvasive pathogens or stimulation with proinflammatory cytokines. Epithelial cell-derived chemokines appear to act as mediators of intercellular communication between the epithelium and immune and inflammatory cells in the adjacent and underlying mucosa. 

Chemokine Receptors and Their Ligands Expressed by Intestinal Epithelial Cells... 

Dwinell, M. B., Eckmann, L., Leopard, J. D., Varki, N. M., and Kagnoff, M. F. (1999). Chemokine receptor expression by human intestinal epithelial cells. Gastroenterology 117, 359-367. 

Given that epithelial cells have been shown to be a source of chemokines at mucosal sites (Li et al., 1999 Santy et al, 1999 Song et al, 1999), it will be important to define the expression and function of chemokines and their receptors in the intestinal microenvironment during nematode infection, and to determine what effects, if any, these have on the polarization or regulation of anti-nematode responses. 

First contact between the intestinal microbiota and the host occurs via mucosal ECs (or modified epithelial cells called M cells in the Peyer s Patches), and underlying or intercalating DCs. Mucosal ECs express polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (PigR) and secretary component, MHC class I and II molecules, other adhesion molecules and a variety of cytokines and chemokines. These molecules play important roles in signaling microbial... 

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