Goblet cell

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Goblet cell

Schematic illustration of a goblet cell in close up, illustrating different
internal structures of the cell.

Transverse section of a villus, from the humanintestine. X 350.
a. Basement membrane, here somewhat shrunken away from the
epithelium.
b. Lacteal.
c. Columnar epithelium.
d. Its striated border.
e. Goblet cells.
f. Leucocytes in epithelium.
f. Leucocytes below epithelium.
g. Blood vessels.
h. Muscle cells cut across.
Latin exocrimohsinocytus caliciformis
Code TH H3.04.03.0.00009;
H3.04.03.0.00016
H3.05.00.0.00006
Anatomical terminology
A goblet cell is a glandular simple columnar epithelial cell whose function is to secrete gel
forming mucins, which are the major component of mucus. The goblet cells use
both apocrine and merocrine methods for secretion.
The majority of the cell's cytoplasm is occupied by mucinogen granules, except at the bottom,
where rough endoplasmic reticulum,mitochondria, the nucleus, and other organelles are
concentrated. The apical plasma membrane projects microvilli to increase surface area for
secretion.
Contents
[hide]
1 Structure
o 1.1 Histology
2 Function
o 2.1 Types of secretion
o 2.2 Role in oral tolerance
3 Clinical significance
4 History
o 4.1 Etymology
5 References
6 External links
Structure[edit]
They are found scattered among the epithelial lining of organs, such as
the intestinal and respiratory tracts.
[1]
They are found inside thetrachea, bronchus, and
larger bronchioles in respiratory tract, small intestines, the colon, and conjunctiva in the upper
eyelid. (Goblet cells are the chief source of tear mucus. These occur throughout the conjunctiva,
especially the plica semilunaris. These are most dense in nasal conjunctiva, least dense in upper
temporal fornix and absent in palpebral mucocutaneous junction and limbus.)
They may be an indication of metaplasia, such as in Barrett's esophagus.
Histology[edit]
The nuclei of goblet cells tend to be displaced toward the basal end of the cell body, leading to
intense basophilic staining.
In mucicarmine stains, deep red mucin found within goblet cell bodies. Goblet cells can be seen
in the examples below as the larger, more pale cells.

An intestinal gland from the human intestine with goblet cells visible.

Goblet cell in ileum

section of mouse intestine. Mucus of goblet cells in blue.

Section of mucous membrane of humanstomach, near thecardiac orifice. X 45.
c. Cardiac glands.
d. Their ducts.
cr. Gland similar to theintestinal glands, withgoblet cells.
mm. Mucous membrane.
m. Muscularis mucosae.
m. Muscular tissue within the mucous membrane.
Function[edit]
The main role of goblet cells is to secrete mucus in order to protect the mucosae where they are
found.
Types of secretion[edit]
Basal secretions. This is the normal base level secretion of mucus, which is accomplished
by cytoskeletal movement of secretory granules.
Stimulated secretion. Secretion may be stimulated by dust, smoke, etc. Other stimuli include
viruses, bacteria, etc.
[citation needed]

Role in oral tolerance[edit]
Oral tolerance is the process by which the immune system is prevented from responding to
antigen derived from food products, as peptides from food may pass into the bloodstream via the
gut, which would in theory lead to an immune response. A recent paper published in Nature, has
shed some light on the process and implicated goblet cells as having a role in the process.
[2]
It
was known that CD103 expressing dendritic cells of the lamina propria had a role to play in the
induction of oral tolerance (potentially by inducing the differentiation of regulatory T cells), and
this paper suggests that the goblet cells act to preferentially deliver antigen to these
CD103
+
dendritic cells.
[2]

Clinical significance[edit]
Goblet cell carcinoid - a tumor that has a component that is similar to goblet cells
History[edit]
Etymology[edit]
The term goblet refers to these cells' goblet-like shape. The apical portion is shaped like a cup,
as it is distended by abundant mucinogen granules; its basal portion is shaped like a stem, as it
is narrow for lack of these granules.
There are other cells that secrete mucus (as in the foveolar cells of the stomach
[3]
), but they are
not usually called "goblet cells" because they do not have this distinctive shape.