TABLE 5.
Events of immunologic activity associated with mucosal immune responses
| Events at inductive sites (cytokines involved) | Events at effector sites (cytokines involved) |
|---|---|
| Antigen exposure | Homing of antigen-reactive lymphocytes (integrin mediated) to sites of primary immunization |
| M-cell activation and antigen uptake, transport, and processing | Selective seeding of other distant effector sites |
| Dendritic cell maturation (CSF, TNF-α, IL-4↑, IL-10 ↓) | Induction of pIgR (IFN-γ) |
| Activation of T cells: (i) TCR + CD4+, MHC class II; (ii) TCR + CD8+, MHC class I | Activation, proliferation, and terminal differentiation of antigen-reactive IgA B cells to plasma cells (IL-4, IL-5, IL-6)b |
| B-cell activationa isotype switch (TGF-β, IL-5, IL-6) | |
| Integrin expression: α4β7, L-selectin | |
| Selective migration of B and T (?) cells to effector sites |
a
Additional contribution from dendritic cells, CD40-CD40ligand B-cell antigen receptor.
b
Additional contribution from CD4+ Th2 or Th1 cells.