Table 1.
Characteristics and functions of intestinal cells.
| Cell type | Characteristics | Function | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterocytes | -Most abundant cells in the small intestine -Column-like shape -Have an apical membrane domain covered by microvilli and a carbohydrate glycocalyx |
-Nutrient digestion and absorption -Ion uptake from lumen to enterocyte cytoplasm -Important for innate immunity |
[37,45,47,53] |
| Goblet cells | -Mucus-secreting (especially MUC 2) | -Maintenance of the mucus protective layer -Regulation of intestinal wall |
[37,45,54–56] |
| Paneth cells | -Located in the deepest parts of the crypts of Lieberkühn (formed by the folding of the intestine) | -Shielding the epithelial wall by generation of antimicrobial proteins (AMPs) that disrupt pathogen integrity | [47,57–59] |
| M cells | -b1% of total cells in the intestinal lumen -Cover lymphatic bodies, including lymphoid follicles and Peyer’s patches -Short microvilli and thin mucus layer -Heavily invaginated -Have a protruding glycocalyx |
-Efficient transcytosis activity -Antigen sampling -Active transportation of pathogens -Receptor-mediated and non-specific antigen uptake -Delivery of these microbial parts to subepithelial dendritic cells |
[12,26,44,47,56,60] |
| Intestinal epithelial stem cells (IESCs) | -Located at the base of the crypts in the colon -Continuously migrate and mature to their final shedding into the lumen |
-Maintenance of healthy cellular populations in the intestine | [57,61,62] |
| Enteroendocrine cells | -Located in the mucosa -Placed between other epithelial cells |
-Secretion of hormones important for digestive functions -Mediation interactions between central and enteric endocrine systems | [37,63] |