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Comment
. 2021 May;14(3):542-543.
doi: 10.1038/s41385-020-00369-0. Epub 2021 Jan 25.

Guardians of the epithelium: macrophages protect against toxic fungal derivatives

Allan M Mowat #  1 , Calum C Bain #  2
Affiliations
Comment

Guardians of the epithelium: macrophages protect against toxic fungal derivatives

Allan M Mowat et al. Mucosal Immunol. 2021 May.

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.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Comment on

  • Macrophages Maintain Epithelium Integrity by Limiting Fungal Product Absorption.
    Chikina AS, Nadalin F, Maurin M, San-Roman M, Thomas-Bonafos T, Li XV, Lameiras S, Baulande S, Henri S, Malissen B, Lacerda Mariano L, Barbazan J, Blander JM, Iliev ID, Matic Vignjevic D, Lennon-Duménil AM. Chikina AS, et al. Cell. 2020 Oct 15;183(2):411-428.e16. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.08.048. Epub 2020 Sep 23. Cell. 2020. PMID: 32970988 Free PMC article.

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