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Gut Immune Maturation Depends on Colonization with a Host-Specific Microbiota CELL Chung, H., Pamp, S. J., Hill, J. A., Surana, N. K., Edelman, S. M., Troy, E. B., Reading, N. C., Villablanca, E. J., Wang, S., Mora, J. R., Umesaki, Y., Mathis, D., Benoist, C., Relman, D. A., Kasper, D. L. 2012; 149 (7): 1578-1593

Abstract

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.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cell.2012.04.037

View details for Web of Science ID 000305753800022

View details for PubMedID 22726443

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3442780