Intraepithelial lymphocyte

Intraepithelial Lymphocyte

Intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) (pronunciation: in-truh-ep-i-THEE-lee-uhl lim-fuh-sites) are a type of immune cell that resides in the epithelium, the thin layer of tissue that covers the body's surfaces and lines its cavities.

Etymology

The term "intraepithelial lymphocyte" is derived from the Latin intra meaning "within", epithelium referring to the tissue type, and lymphocyte which is a type of white blood cell.

Function

IELs play a crucial role in the immune response, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract, where they help to maintain the integrity of the intestinal barrier and protect against pathogens. They are also involved in the regulation of immune tolerance and inflammation.

Types

There are two main types of IELs: T cells and B cells. T cells are further divided into CD8+ T cells and CD4+ T cells, while B cells are primarily involved in the production of antibodies.

Related Terms

• Immune system
• Epithelium
• Lymphocyte
• T cell
• B cell
• CD8+ T cell
• CD4+ T cell
• Antibody
• Pathogen
• Inflammation
• Immune tolerance
• Gastrointestinal tract
• Intestinal barrier

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Intraepithelial lymphocyte
• Wikipedia's article - Intraepithelial lymphocyte

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