[HTML][HTML] Gut immune maturation depends on colonization with a host-specific microbiota

H Chung, SJ Pamp, JA Hill, NK Surana, SM Edelman… - Cell, 2012 - cell.com
H Chung, SJ Pamp, JA Hill, NK Surana, SM Edelman, EB Troy, NC Reading, EJ Villablanca
Cell, 2012cell.com
Gut microbial induction of host immune maturation exemplifies host-microbe mutualism. We
colonized germ-free (GF) mice with mouse microbiota (MMb) or human microbiota (HMb) to
determine whether small intestinal immune maturation depends on a coevolved host-
specific microbiota. Gut bacterial numbers and phylum abundance were similar in MMb and
HMb mice, but bacterial species differed, especially the Firmicutes. HMb mouse intestines
had low levels of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, few proliferating T cells, few dendritic cells, and …
Summary
Gut microbial induction of host immune maturation exemplifies host-microbe mutualism. We colonized germ-free (GF) mice with mouse microbiota (MMb) or human microbiota (HMb) to determine whether small intestinal immune maturation depends on a coevolved host-specific microbiota. Gut bacterial numbers and phylum abundance were similar in MMb and HMb mice, but bacterial species differed, especially the Firmicutes. HMb mouse intestines had low levels of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, few proliferating T cells, few dendritic cells, and low antimicrobial peptide expression—all characteristics of GF mice. Rat microbiota also failed to fully expand intestinal T cell numbers in mice. Colonizing GF or HMb mice with mouse-segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) partially restored T cell numbers, suggesting that SFB and other MMb organisms are required for full immune maturation in mice. Importantly, MMb conferred better protection against Salmonella infection than HMb. A host-specific microbiota appears to be critical for a healthy immune system.
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