11 April 2014
There are trillions of bacteria living in close association with your body, particularly of those in the gut. Discover another family of cells living in your gut - the gut immune system - by watching the video below. The gut is your largest immune organ, with a surface area equivalent to that of a small studio apartment (about 100-130 square feet)!
As the largest and most dynamic immunological environment within your body, the gut immune system is key to maintaining a healthy gut as well as overall health. This video, courtesy of Nature Immunology, introduces you to the key cells and molecular players living within your gut. It demonstrates how immune responses that are triggered by harmless substances (such as food proteins) are the underlying cause of food allergies and conditions like inflammatory bowel disease.
Read more about how the interplay between the gut microbiota and the gut immune system is thought to influence your overall health.