NTR: microfold

[Caroline-99]

Please provide as much information as you can:

• Suggested term label:
  microfold

• Definition (free text)
  The short, sparse, and irregular microvilli found on the apical surface of M-cells in the intestinal epithelium; these structures facilitate the sampling, uptake, and transcytosis of antigens, microorganisms, and macromolecules from the intestinal lumen to underlying immune cells.

• Reference, in format PMID:#######
  (REQUIRED)
  PMID: 18081850
  PMID: 31649668

• Gene product name and ID to be annotated to this term

Glycoprotein 2 (GP2): GP2 is a key protein expressed on the apical surface of M cells. It acts as a receptor for specific bacteria, facilitating the uptake of antigens from the intestinal lumen (PMID: 31649668, PMID: 18523247, PMID: 19907495)

cellular prion protein (PrPC): is predominantly expressed on the apical surface of M cells among intestinal epithelial cells - confocal microscopic analysis indicated that PrPC was expressed on the apical plasma membrane of M cells (in murine M cells) (PMID: 19675110)

• Parent term(s)
  cluster of actin-based cell projections

'has part' some 'microvillus'

• Children terms (if applicable) Should any existing terms that should be moved underneath this new proposed term?

• Synonyms (please specify, EXACT, BROAD, NARROW or RELATED)

• Cross-references
  'part of' some 'M cell of gut'

• Any other information

[raymond91125]

Figure from PMID: 25032083.

@Caroline-99 Microfold seems to be a description of more of a lack of full, well developed microvilli (brush border) that are typically found on cells of intestinal epithelium than strictly a clearly defined cellular structure. For GP2 and PrPC, the references are about their localization to the "apical surface" of M cells as opposed to "microfold" per se. Is my understanding correct? If so, I suggest that we may not want to have this term as a cellular component.

[Caroline-99]

@raymond91125 Yes, your understanding is correct. The term 'microfold' describes more of a reduced or underdeveloped state of microvilli rather than a distinctly defined cellular structure. The references focus on gene expression localized to the 'apical surface.' I agree with your suggestion that this term may not be suitable as a cellular component.

[raymond91125]

Thanks for the review. I'll then close this ticket as resolved. Please reopen if there is more to discuss.