Scientists identify unexpected player in intestinal immunity

Goblet cells may be a potential target for therapies against inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease and food allergies. Above, a sugar antigen ingested by a mouse fills a goblet cell (red) in the intestine, which delivers the antigen to a dendritic cell (green). Dendritic cells use the antigens to educate the immune system to recognize food antigens as harmless rather than as infectious agents.