Where are Paneth cells located and what is their function?

Where are Paneth cells located and what is their function?

• A. In stomach; secrete mucin.
• B. In liver; secrete bile.
• C. At the base of intestinal crypts (duodenum and beyond) and secrete antimicrobial peptides such as lysozyme and defensins.
• D. In colon; secrete chloride.

Answer: (C)

Paneth cells reside at the base of the crypts of Lieberkühn in the small intestine (duodenum and continuing beyond). They have large, dense granules that store antimicrobial peptides such as lysozyme and defensins, which they secrete into the crypt lumen. This places their defenses right where new epithelial cells are formed, helping protect the stem cell niche from pathogens and helping shape the local microbiota. They are not located in the stomach or liver, and they are not the main mucus-secreting cells of the colon; instead, other secretory cells there have different roles.

Paneth cells reside at the base of the crypts of Lieberkühn in the small intestine (duodenum and continuing beyond). They have large, dense granules that store antimicrobial peptides such as lysozyme and defensins, which they secrete into the crypt lumen. This places their defenses right where new epithelial cells are formed, helping protect the stem cell niche from pathogens and helping shape the local microbiota. They are not located in the stomach or liver, and they are not the main mucus-secreting cells of the colon; instead, other secretory cells there have different roles.