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Sorry if this is not in the wrong place. Please feel free to move if needed. Article is about research on how intestinal cells absorb food.
Below is just s small part of the article. Click the link for the full article on Live Science com. This sounds like a step forward in understanding how the digestive tract functions.
http://www.livescience.com/19221-gut-cells-food-allergies.html
Special Gut Cells May Help Tame Food Allergies
Christopher Wanjek, LiveScience Bad Medicine Columnist
Date: 22 March 2012 Time: 10:21 AM ET
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The mediators are goblet cells, the very same type of cells that secrete the protective barrier of mucus in the small intestine that regulates the passage of nutrients and other chemicals. Miller captured images of a goblet cell engulfing a sugar antigen just consumed by the mouse and bringing it to a dendritic cell.
"Everyone has concentrated only on the fact that goblet cells secrete mucus, but I think in the face of our findings, you could perhaps wonder whether the problem in inflammatory bowel disease might result in part from goblet cells not delivering antigens to the correct place," Newberry said. "Or maybe they're not delivering antigens at all or too many antigens. We just don't know yet."
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Christopher Wanjek is the author of the books "Bad Medicine" and "Food At Work." His column, Bad Medicine, appears regularly on LiveScience.
Below is just s small part of the article. Click the link for the full article on Live Science com. This sounds like a step forward in understanding how the digestive tract functions.
http://www.livescience.com/19221-gut-cells-food-allergies.html
Special Gut Cells May Help Tame Food Allergies
Christopher Wanjek, LiveScience Bad Medicine Columnist
Date: 22 March 2012 Time: 10:21 AM ET
...
The mediators are goblet cells, the very same type of cells that secrete the protective barrier of mucus in the small intestine that regulates the passage of nutrients and other chemicals. Miller captured images of a goblet cell engulfing a sugar antigen just consumed by the mouse and bringing it to a dendritic cell.
"Everyone has concentrated only on the fact that goblet cells secrete mucus, but I think in the face of our findings, you could perhaps wonder whether the problem in inflammatory bowel disease might result in part from goblet cells not delivering antigens to the correct place," Newberry said. "Or maybe they're not delivering antigens at all or too many antigens. We just don't know yet."
....
Christopher Wanjek is the author of the books "Bad Medicine" and "Food At Work." His column, Bad Medicine, appears regularly on LiveScience.