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Updated: May 12, 2026

Application of a Mouse Ligated Peyer’s Patch Intestinal Loop Assay to Evaluate Bacterial Uptake by M cells
Published on: December 17, 2011
Differential binding of lectins to M cells and enterocytes in the rabbit cecum
Background:
The afferent limb of the intestinal immune system is represented by the gut-associated lymphoid tissue, in which antigenic material, including complete bacteria, is taken up from the lumen by specialized epithelial cells (M cells). Because the adherence of micro-organisms to epithelial can be mediated by lectin-sugar bindings, the glycoconjugates of the surfaces of M cells and enterocytes were compared.
Methods:
A set of 28 lectins and corresponding sugars was used for light and electron microscopy of fixed and unfixed sections. M cells were identified by anti-vimentin antibodies.
Results:
M cells of the cecal lymphoid patches selectively bound lectins specific for fucose or N-acetylgalactosamine. The labeled glycoconjugates were located in the apical membrane and in the membrane of vesicles in the apical cytoplasm. Enterocytes were selectively labeled by galactose-specific lectins. In contrast, the lectin-reactivity of M cells and enterocytes did not differ in the jejunal Peyer's patches.
Conclusions:
The results suggest that there may be selectivity mediated by glycoconjugates in the uptake of antigenic material by cecal M cells but not by jejunal M cells.
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