Innate and adaptive immunity cooperate flexibly to maintain host-microbiota mutualism
Publisher DOI
PubMed ID
19644121
Abstract
Commensal bacteria in the lower intestine of mammals are 10 times as numerous as the body's cells. We investigated the relative importance of different immune mechanisms in limiting the spread of the intestinal microbiota. Here, we reveal a flexible continuum between innate and adaptive immune function in containing commensal microbes. Mice deficient in critical innate immune functions such as Toll-like receptor signaling or oxidative burst production spontaneously produce high-titer serum antibodies against their commensal microbiota. These antibody responses are functionally essential to maintain host-commensal mutualism in vivo in the face of innate immune deficiency. Spontaneous hyper-activation of adaptive immunity against the intestinal microbiota, secondary to innate immune deficiency, may clarify the underlying mechanisms of inflammatory diseases where immune dysfunction is implicated.
Date Issued
2009
Publication Type
Article
Language(s)
en
Author(s)
Slack, Emma | |
Stecher, Bärbel | |
Velykoredko, Yuliya | |
Stoel, Maaike | |
Lawson, Melissa A E | |
Geuking, Markus B | |
Beutler, Bruce | |
Tedder, Thomas F | |
Hardt, Wolf-Dietrich | |
Bercik, Premysl | |
Verdu, Elena F | |
McCoy, Kathy D |
Journal
Science
Publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science
ISSN
0036-8075
ISBN
19644121
Access(Rights)
metadata.only