What Are Paneth Cells

Paneth cells are highly specialized secretory epithelial cells located in the small intestinal crypts of Lieberkühn. The dense granules produced by Paneth cells contain an abundance of antimicrobial peptides and immunomodulating proteins that function to regulate the composition of the intestinal flora.

Are Paneth cells immune cells?

A variety of mechanisms are needed to mediate host protection against micro-organisms in the intestine prior to induction of highly specific adaptive immune responses. Recent studies suggest that Paneth cells play an important role in innate host defence via their ability to secrete antimicrobial peptides and proteins.

What do Paneth cells look like?

A few years later, Paneth cells were described in depth by their namesake, Joseph Paneth (2, 3). They are now well-recognized as pyramidal shaped, columnar, secretory cells situated at the base of the crypts of Lieberkühn, which are small depressions in the mucosal surface along the small intestine (4).