Mapping immune cell interactions in gut tissue reveals changes in ulcerative colitis

In a new study published in Science Immunology, researchers at King's College London looked at a type of tissue important for the immune response called gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), which is located within the lining of the gut.

Unlike other tissue structures in the gut lining that act as a barrier between the trillions of bacteria in the gut and the rest of the body, GALT actively transports gut microbes into the body.

By doing this, GALT activates immune responses that help maintain a stable relationship with beneficial gut bacteria. ...