Abstract

Mucosal surfaces serve as vital barriers against pathogens, requiring robust innate immune responses for protection. Understanding the dynamics of mucosal innate immunity is essential for elucidating host defense mechanisms and developing targeted therapeutic strategies against mucosal infections and inflammatory disorders. This review explores current insights into the innate immune responses at mucosal sites, focusing on key cellular players such as epithelial cells, dendritic cells, macrophages, and innate lymphoid cells. Mechanisms of pathogen recognition, cytokine signaling pathways, and intercellular communication networks governing mucosal immune responses are discussed. Furthermore, the impact of dysregulated innate immunity in mucosal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, chronic sinusitis, and oral mucositis is highlighted. Advances in mucosal immunology research, including single-cell technologies and in vivo imaging, offer new avenues for deciphering the complexities of mucosal innate immunity and advancing therapeutic interventions tailored to mucosal diseases.