The digestive tract's immune system is often referred to as gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) and works to protect the body from invasion. GALT is an example of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue.
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Function
About 70% of the body's immune system is found in the digestive tract. The GALT is made up of several types of lymphoid tissue that store immune cells, such as T and B lymphocytes, that carry out attacks and defend against pathogens.
New research indicates that GALT may continue to be a major site of HIV activity, even if drug treatment has reduced HIV count in the peripheral blood.[1][2]
Components
Lymphoid tissue in the gut comprises the following:
- Tonsils (Waldeyer's ring)
- Adenoids (Pharyngeal tonsils)
- Peyer's patches
- Lymphoid aggregates in the appendix and large intestine
- Lymphoid tissue accumulating with age in the stomach
- Small lymphoid aggregates in the oesophagus
- Diffusely distributed lymphoid cells and plasma cells in the lamina propria of the gut
Additional images
 Lymphatics of colon. |
 Section of the human esophagus. |
 Transverse section of human vermiform process. X 20. |
 Section of mucous membrane of human rectum. X 60. |
References
- ^ Moraima Guadalupe,1 Sumathi Sankaran,1 Michael D. George,1 Elizabeth Reay,1 David Verhoeven,1 Barbara L. Shacklett,1 Jason Flamm,4 Jacob Wegelin,3 Thomas Prindiville,2 and Satya Dandekar. Viral Suppression and Immune Restoration in the Gastrointestinal Mucosa of HIV Type 1-Infected Patients Initiating Therapy during Primary or Chronic Infection Journal of Virology, August 2006, p. 8236-8247, Vol. 80, No. 16
- ^ Anton PA, Mitsuyasu RT, Deeks SG, Scadden DT, Wagner B, Huang C, Macken C, Richman DD, Christopherson C, Borellini F, Lazar R, Hege KM. Multiple measures of HIV burden in blood and tissue are correlated with each other but not with clinical parameters in aviremic subjects. AIDS. 2003 Jan 3;17(1):53-63.
External links
- Histology at BU 12502loa - "Digestive System: Alimentary Canal: colon, taenia coli"
- Histology at BU 11102loa - "Digestive System: Alimentary Canal: esophageal/stomach junction"
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