The mucosal surfaces of fish are important disease barriers as they are directly exposed to an environment containing abundant harmful agents. The mucus acts as the first barrier that pathogens must overcome to access the epithelial layers. The secretion of mucus-forming mucins, antimicrobial peptides, and secretory immunoglobulins (SIgs), reinforces the mucosal barrier on the extraepithelial side, while various immune cells (T and B lymphocytes, dendritic cells, macrophages, innate lymphoid cells, and so forth) contribute to mucosal defense in the inner side.
Both epithelial and lamina propria cells are the main mediators of innate and adaptive immune responses. The epithelia not only express innate pattern recognition receptors that recognize microbe-associated molecular patterns to participate in the cellular immune response but also polymeric Ig receptors (pIgR) to mediate the secretion of SIgs. SIgs (such as IgM, IgT) antibodies protect the mucosa from commensal microbes and invading pathogenic microorganisms, playing a key role in maintaining immune homeostasis. Furthermore, cytokines produced by epithelial and lamina propria cells are involved in the regulation of mucosal barrier function, including the modulation of epithelial integrity and dynamics, as well as the immune responses. Increased knowledge of fish mucosal barrier will facilitate the development of novel vaccination strategies to stimulate robust mucosal protection at the predominant sites of pathogen infection.
This Research Topic aims to provide a forum to advance research on the physical, biochemical, and immune nature of mucosal barrier in fish, and provide a better understanding of the mucosal innate and specific protective mechanisms in the defense against pathogenic invasions and in maintaining the body’s homeostasis.
We welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, and Mini-Review articles that cover, but are not limited to, the following subtopics:
(1) Physical and biochemical barriers in teleost fish;
(2) Role of innate and adaptive immune cells in response to microbes at mucosal surfaces;
(3) Innate and adaptive mucosal immune responses;
(4) Activation, differentiation, and plasticity of different innate lymphoid cells and T helper cell subsets in mucosal sites;
(5) Mechanisms involved in the induction of SIgs and their function;
(6) Regulations of mucosal barrier function by cytokines and related pathways;
(7) Maintenance of body homeostasis by mucosal barriers;
(8) Development of novel vaccination strategies to stimulate robust mucosal protection.
The mucosal surfaces of fish are important disease barriers as they are directly exposed to an environment containing abundant harmful agents. The mucus acts as the first barrier that pathogens must overcome to access the epithelial layers. The secretion of mucus-forming mucins, antimicrobial peptides, and secretory immunoglobulins (SIgs), reinforces the mucosal barrier on the extraepithelial side, while various immune cells (T and B lymphocytes, dendritic cells, macrophages, innate lymphoid cells, and so forth) contribute to mucosal defense in the inner side.
Both epithelial and lamina propria cells are the main mediators of innate and adaptive immune responses. The epithelia not only express innate pattern recognition receptors that recognize microbe-associated molecular patterns to participate in the cellular immune response but also polymeric Ig receptors (pIgR) to mediate the secretion of SIgs. SIgs (such as IgM, IgT) antibodies protect the mucosa from commensal microbes and invading pathogenic microorganisms, playing a key role in maintaining immune homeostasis. Furthermore, cytokines produced by epithelial and lamina propria cells are involved in the regulation of mucosal barrier function, including the modulation of epithelial integrity and dynamics, as well as the immune responses. Increased knowledge of fish mucosal barrier will facilitate the development of novel vaccination strategies to stimulate robust mucosal protection at the predominant sites of pathogen infection.
This Research Topic aims to provide a forum to advance research on the physical, biochemical, and immune nature of mucosal barrier in fish, and provide a better understanding of the mucosal innate and specific protective mechanisms in the defense against pathogenic invasions and in maintaining the body’s homeostasis.
We welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, and Mini-Review articles that cover, but are not limited to, the following subtopics:
(1) Physical and biochemical barriers in teleost fish;
(2) Role of innate and adaptive immune cells in response to microbes at mucosal surfaces;
(3) Innate and adaptive mucosal immune responses;
(4) Activation, differentiation, and plasticity of different innate lymphoid cells and T helper cell subsets in mucosal sites;
(5) Mechanisms involved in the induction of SIgs and their function;
(6) Regulations of mucosal barrier function by cytokines and related pathways;
(7) Maintenance of body homeostasis by mucosal barriers;
(8) Development of novel vaccination strategies to stimulate robust mucosal protection.
