Immunity comes from the gut
Increasingly, you hear about the relationship between the gut and immunity. Probably the majority of recipients of all media have heard the phrase “70% of immunity comes from the intestines.” This is of course a true statement, and in this post we will introduce you to this extremely interesting topic.
MALT, the body’s first line of defense
The body is constantly exposed to threats from the outside. The vast majority of pathogens, i.e. pathogens, enter the body through the mucous membranes – they are the places where the body comes into contact with the external environment. It is for this reason that the unique defense system MALT (mucosal-associated lymphoid tissues) was developed. MALT is composed of the following components:
- single lymph nodes;
- lymphatic lumps organized into aggregates;
- disseminated lymphocytes of the basal membrane and basal epithelium.
So where does the intestinal immunity come from?
The answer to this question is as follows: MALT is a larger system that is made up of smaller sub-units. One of such components is the GALT system (gut-associated lymphoid tissue), i.e. the lymphoid tissue associated with the intestines. Of all the units of the MALT system, it is GALT that is characterized by the greatest immunological activity, i.e. immune activity. It is estimated that as much as 70-80% of all immunocompetent cells, i.e. cells capable of an immune response, are found in the intestinal mucosa. What’s also interesting 1 m of the intestine contains about 10 ^ 10 lymphocytes (that is as much as 10 billion!).
The intestines, as you can see, are a fascinating organ about which we hope to tell you many more interesting facts.
Based:
Dział J., Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej P., Mękal A. et al. Characteristics of the lymphatic tissue of the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract and the respiratory system. Allerg Asthma Immun, 2010, 15, 197-202
Krauss H .: Physiology of Nutrition. PZWL, Warsaw, 2019