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. 2020 Dec 7;11:604054. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.604054

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Copyright © 2020 Ali, Tan and Kaiko

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

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Structure and cell type specification of intestinal epithelium and function in antigen uptake. The intestinal epithelial barrier consists of stem cells, Paneth cells (small intestine), goblet cells, tuft cells, enteroendocrine (EE) cells, enterocytes (small intestine)/colonocytes (colon), and microfold (M) cells overlying lymphoid follicles. Route of antigen uptake: (1) paracellular transport of food allergen, (2) goblet associated antigen passages, (3) direct antigen uptake by dendritic cells (DCs) stretching a dendrite into the lumen between the epithelial intercellular space, (4) M cell mediated antigen transcytosis. DC present food antigen to lymphocytes to T cell differentiation into Th2 cells and B cell isotype class switching to produce allergen-specific IgE. Contribution of IECs to amplifying food allergy: IgE complexed with food antigen can transcytose across intestinal epithelial cells via FceRII, this process stimulates CCL20 release. Tuft cell produce IL-25 driving the expansion of ILC2s and their production of IL-4 and IL-13, which in turn drive mast cell and eosinophil activation. Epithelial cells produce Eotaxin-1, a chemoattractant for eosinophils. During an allergic response IL-13 acts on secretory cells like Paneth cells, EE cells, and goblet cells to increase antigen uptake and presentation to IgE-bearing mast cells. Mechanism of inhibition of allergic response by IECs through activation of basolateral expressed IL-12Rβ2.