Localization of fatty acid binding protein of epidermal type common to dendritic cells and presumptive macrophages in Peyer's patches and epithelial M cells of mouse intestine

Roles of M cells in infection and mucosal vaccines

The mucosal immune system plays a crucial part in the control of infection. Exposure of humans and animals to potential pathogens generally occurs through mucosal surfaces, thus, strategies that target the mucosa seem rational and efficient vaccination measures. Vaccination through the mucosal immune system can induce effective systemic immune responses simultaneously with mucosal immunity compared with parenteral vaccination. M cells are capable of transporting luminal antigens to the underlying lymphoid tissues and can be exploited by pathogens as an entry portal to invade the host. Therefore, targeting M-cell-specific molecules might enhance antigen entry, initiate the immune response, and induce protection against mucosal pathogens. Here, we outline our understanding of the distribution and function of M cells, and summarize the advances in mucosal vaccine strategies that target M cells.

Expression of epidermal fatty acid binding protein (E-FABP) in septoclasts in the growth plate cartilage of mice

n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids play a role in regulating the growth of the long bones. Fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) bind and transport hydrophobic long-chain fatty acids intracellularly, and epidermal-type FABP (E-FABP) has an affinity for n-3 fatty acids. This study aimed to clarify the localization of E-FABP in the growth plate of the mouse tibia. At the chondro-osseous junction (COJ) of the growth plate, E-FABP-immunoreactivity was exclusively localized in mononuclear, spindle-shaped cells with several long processes. These E-FABP-immunoreactive cells were identified as being septoclasts, i.e., cells that resorb uncalcified transverse septa. The processes of these immunoreactive septoclasts terminated between the longitudinal and transverse septa. E-FABP-immunoreactivity was found in the entire cytoplasm and on the mitochondrial outer membrane. In ontogeny, immunoreactive septoclasts were observed immediately after emergence of the primary ossifying center and were distributed not only at the COJ but also in the metaphysis near the COJ. The number of septoclasts increased at the postnatal age of 1 week (P1w)-P2w, and thereafter gradually decreased; and the cells became concentrated at the COJ after P3w-P4w. The immunoreactivity for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)β/δ was detected in these E-FABP-immunoreactive septoclasts. The present results suggest that fatty acids, preferably n-3 ones, are intracellularly transported by E-FABP to various targets, including mitochondria and nucleus, in which PPARβ/δ may play functional roles in the transcriptional regulation of genes involved in the endochondral ossification.

Microfold (M) cells: important immunosurveillance posts in the intestinal epithelium

The transcytosis of antigens across the gut epithelium by microfold cells (M cells) is important for the induction of efficient immune responses to some mucosal antigens in Peyer's patches. Recently, substantial progress has been made in our understanding of the factors that influence the development and function of M cells. This review highlights these important advances, with particular emphasis on: the host genes which control the functional maturation of M cells; how this knowledge has led to the rapid advance in our understanding of M-cell biology in the steady state and during aging; molecules expressed on M cells which appear to be used as "immunosurveillance" receptors to sample pathogenic microorganisms in the gut; how certain pathogens appear to exploit M cells to infect the host; and finally how this knowledge has been used to specifically target antigens to M cells to attempt to improve the efficacy of mucosal vaccines.

Identification of FABP7 in fibroblastic reticular cells of mouse lymph nodes

Fatty acids and their metabolites regulate immune cell function. The present study was undertaken to examine the detailed distribution of fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs), the cytosolic chaperones of fatty acids, in mouse peripheral immune organs. Using immunohistochemistry, FABP7 was localized to the alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA)(+) fibroblastic reticular cells, which construct the stromal reticula in the T cell areas of the peripheral lymph nodes and spleen. Immunoelectron microscopy showed that FABP7(+) cells enclosed the collagen fibers, forming a conduit system, which transport lymph and associated low-molecular-mass proteins. In contrast, FABP5(+) cells were distributed throughout the lymph node and contained well-developed lysosome and phagocytic materials within the cytoplasm. The mesenteric lymph nodes of FABP7 knockout mice showed normal histological features, but the percentage of CD4(+) cells was significantly increased compared with that in wild-type mice. These data indicate that FABP7 may be involved in T cell homeostasis, possibly by modulating lipid metabolism in fibroblastic reticular cells within the peripheral lymph nodes.

Extending the knowledge in histochemistry and cell biology

Central to modern Histochemistry and Cell Biology stands the need for visualization of cellular and molecular processes. In the past several years, a variety of techniques has been achieved bridging traditional light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy with powerful software-based post-processing and computer modeling. Researchers now have various tools available to investigate problems of interest from bird's- up to worm's-eye of view, focusing on tissues, cells, proteins or finally single molecules. Applications of new approaches in combination with well-established traditional techniques of mRNA, DNA or protein analysis have led to enlightening and prudent studies which have paved the way toward a better understanding of not only physiological but also pathological processes in the field of cell biology. This review is intended to summarize articles standing for the progress made in "histo-biochemical" techniques and their manifold applications.