Mucosal T cells in gut homeostasis and inflammation

The antigen-rich environment of the gut interacts with a highly integrated and specialized mucosal immune system that has the challenging task of preventing invasion and the systemic spread of microbes, while avoiding excessive or unnecessary immune responses to innocuous antigens. Disruption of the mucosal barrier and/or defects in gut immune regulatory networks may lead to chronic intestinal inflammation as seen in inflammatory bowel disease. The T-cell populations of the intestine play a critical role in controlling intestinal homeostasis, and their unique phenotypes and diversities reflect the sophisticated mechanisms that have evolved to maintain the delicate balance between immune activation and tolerance at mucosal sites. In this article, we will discuss the specialized properties of mucosal T cells in the context of immune homeostasis and inflammation.