ABSTRACT
The mucosal surface of the intestinal tract is the largest body surface in contact with the external environment (200-300 m2), and is lined by a simple columnar epithelium that is folded to form a number of invaginations, or crypts. Epithelial intestinal cells are constantly renewed from a source of multipotent stem cells located in the crypts of Lieberkühnn. Five highly specialized cell phenotypes are present in the intestinal epithelium: enterocytes, also known as fl uid-transporting cells, neuroendocrine cells, mucus-secreting cells, also known as goblet cells, Paneth cells, and M cells, respectively (Louvard et al. 1992). M cells are located in the epithelium overlying mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues, such as Peyer’s patches, where they act as the antigen-sampling cells of the mucosal immune
CNRS, UMR 8076 « BioCIS». « Chimiothérapie antiparasitaire ». Team Faculté de Pharmacie, Châtenay-Malabry, 92296. France; and Université Paris-Sud, Faculté de Pharmacie, ChâtenayMalabry, 92296. France.
