Learning Objectives

• Identify the components (tissues, structures, cells and mediators) important to mucosal immune responses
• Explain how mucosal immune responses are initiated with particular focus on gastrointestinal immunity
• Describe how lymphocytes activated in mucosal tissues return to mucosal tissues as effector cells
• Describe the unique features of sIgA and its transport across mucosal epithelia
• Explain how the immune system interacts with the nervous and endocrine systems and how these systems communicate
• Describe the immunology of early pregnancy and the maternal-fetal interface including the role of NK cells

Mucosal Immune System

• what are some distinctive features of the mucosal immune system?
• what factors can compromise epithelial barrier integrity?
• why is it called the ‘common’ mucosal immune system?
• what controls lymphocytes circulation within mucosal tissues?
• what ‘unusual’ type of T lymphocytes are found in mucosal tissues?
• what Ig isotype dominates mucosal tissues?
• given that, why is the structure of this Ig important?
• what are the 4 actions of this main Ig?

Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (GALT)

• what are the 2 groups of GIT mucosa protective mechanisms?
• list the different types of gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT)?