Table 1.
Summary table of the main characteristics of teleost MALT. ? = unknown, not studied. ILT: interbranchial lymphoid tissue.
| Characteristic | GALT | SALT | GIALT | NALT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anatomical localization | Intestine | Skin | Gills | Olfactory organ |
| Organization | Diffuse only | Diffuse | Diffuse with one organized tissue in salmon (ILT) | Diffuse |
| Presence of goblet cells | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Total % of B cells | 4-5% | 4-5% | ? | 35%–40% |
| Approximate IgT/IgM B cell ratio | 1:1 | 1:1 | ? | 1:1 |
| Expression of pIgR (protein level) | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes |
| Compartmentalized specific IgT responses against pathogens (protein level) | Yes | Yes | Not demonstrated | Not demonstrated |
| Abundant T cells | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? |
| Presence of bacterial microbiota | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microbiota coated by secretory immunoglobulins | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes |