THE FUNCTIONAL EVOLUTION OF GALT: A REVIEW

Abstract

This synopsis of the evolution of gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) in increasinglycomplex animals suggests that GALT plays an essential role in cellular nutrition and energymetabolism as well as in immunity. Throughout phylogeny, the mediation of immunity as well ascell nutrition depends on the normal capacity of GALT to produce lymphocytes whichcustomarily generate an evolving variety of soluble globulins during maturation and proceed tomigrate throughout the body as emperipoletic cytoplasm-depleted cells which donate theirresidual constituents to genetically compatible cells; and destroy living matter recognized asgenetically incompatible. A dividend is that the lymphocytes not only destroy the geneticallyforeign but also render the remains innocuous or useful as food