gms | German Medical Science

M-cells are a cell type specific for the epithelium of Mucosa-associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT). They can be found just in birds and mammals. It can be stated that the M-cells are the last cell type which appeared in the evolution of life. Their major role is to inform the immune system about all foreign antigens, penetrating the warm-blooded organisms by air, food and water. We consider the M-cells as foreign antigens receptors. They initiate the acquired immune processes and reactions. In other words, the M-cells are helping for the immunogenesis of the young organism.

We postulate that once passed through the M-cells, the foreign antigens are “marked” so that their subsequent processing in the lymph follicles of MALT leads to the formation of B-cells, which are committed to produce IgA after their transformation in plasma cells in case of second encounter with the antigen, that induced the development of the corresponding follicle.

The foreign antigens that penetrate the organism, para-M-cellularly lead to development of lymph follicles in the lymph nodes, but the produced by them B-cells are committed to produce IgG after their transformation in plasma cells in case of subsequent encounter with the corresponding antigen.

We assume that the M-cells are a separate cell type, which is coded into the genetic program of the homoeothermic body. Particularly the M-cells, determine the localization of Mucosa-associated Lymphoid Tissue in the architecture of the homoeothermic body.