[Gastrointestinal immunology]

The paper is devoted to the actual questions of gastrointestinal immunology. In the first part, structure and function of gut-associated mucosal tissue (GALT), including the role of secretory immunoglobulins and importance of oral tolerance are shown. In the second part, the pathogenesis of unknown origin gastrointestinal and liver diseases (gluten sensitive enteropathy, inflammatory bowel diseases, autoimmune liver diseases, autoimmune pancreatitis) is described. Then the immunology of some gastrointestinal infections (Helicobacter pylori, hepatitis virus B and C, and HIV) and of alcoholic and drug induced, liver diseases is briefly summarized.