Guardians of the epithelium: macrophages protect against toxic fungal derivatives

Mowat, A. M. and Bain, C. C. (2021) Guardians of the epithelium: macrophages protect against toxic fungal derivatives. Mucosal Immunology, 14(3), pp. 542-543. (doi: 10.1038/s41385-020-00369-0) (PMID:33495494) (PMCID:PMC8076022)

Abstract

A recent paper in Cell proposes a new role for macrophages in the distal colonic mucosa, namely the generation of balloon-like processes (BLPs) that sample luminal contents and protect epithelial cells from the toxic effects of fungal metabolites absorbed during this process. Here Allan Mowat and Calum Bain discuss the implications of these novel findings for intestinal physiology and macrophage biology, highlighting how they extend our understanding of how tissue resident macrophages can adapt precisely to the physiological needs of individual anatomical niches.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: C.C.B. holds a Sir Henry Dale Fellowship jointly funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Royal Society (Grant Number 206234/Z/17/Z).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Bain, Mr Calum and Mowat, Professor Allan
• Authors: Mowat, A. M., and Bain, C. C.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > Institute of Infection Immunity and Inflammation
• Journal Name: Mucosal Immunology
• Publisher: Nature Research
• ISSN: 1933-0219
• ISSN (Online): 1935-3456
• Published Online: 25 January 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Mucosal Immunology 14(3): 542-543
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence