Publisher's Synopsis
Combining the expertise of researchers in immunology and gastroenterology, this publication provides coverage of the most recent findings in mucosal immunity and the pathogenesis of immunological diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. First, T cell subset systems defined by lymphokine secretion patterns or by maturation markers are considered. Data on the capacity of various cell surface adhesions that serve as receptors for the homing of cells to mucosal tissue are also presented. The key mucosal issue of IgAB cell isotype switching and terminal IgAB cell differentiation is considered in depth. Finally, due attention is given to various immunologic diseases of the mucosal system such as inflammatory bowel disease, gastrointestinal manifestations of HIV infection and autoimmune liver dieseases. Structured to give the reader broad information on recent advances without the need to refer to complex immunologic literature, this publication comprises a reference to the state-of-the-art in mucosal immunity.
