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Nature Reviews. Immunology Oct 2017Fungi and mammals share a co-evolutionary history and are involved in a complex web of interactions. Studies focused on commensal bacteria suggest that pathological... (Review)
Review
Fungi and mammals share a co-evolutionary history and are involved in a complex web of interactions. Studies focused on commensal bacteria suggest that pathological changes in the microbiota, historically known as dysbiosis, are at the root of many inflammatory diseases of non-infectious origin. However, the importance of dysbiosis in the fungal community - the mycobiota - was only recently acknowledged to have a pathological role, as novel findings have suggested that mycobiota disruption can have detrimental effects on host immunity. Fungal dysbiosis and homeostasis are dynamic processes that are probably more common than actual fungal infections, and therefore constantly shape the immune response. In this Review, we summarize specific mycobiota patterns that are associated with fungal dysbiosis, and discuss how mucosal immunity has evolved to distinguish fungal infections from dysbiosis and how it responds to these different conditions. We propose that gut microbiota dysbiosis is a collective feature of complex interactions between prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial communities that can affect immunity and that can influence health and disease.
Topics: Animals; Dysbiosis; Fungi; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Humans; Immunity, Mucosal; Skin; Symbiosis
PubMed: 28604735
DOI: 10.1038/nri.2017.55 -
PloS One 2021The etiology of diverticulosis is still poorly understood. However, in patients with diverticulitis, markers of mucosal inflammation and microbiota alterations have been...
INTRODUCTION
The etiology of diverticulosis is still poorly understood. However, in patients with diverticulitis, markers of mucosal inflammation and microbiota alterations have been found. The aim of this study was to evaluate potential differences of the gut microbiota composition and mucosal immunity between patients with asymptomatic diverticulosis and controls.
METHODS
We performed a prospective study on patients who underwent routine colonoscopy for causes not related to diverticular disease or inflammatory bowel disease. Participants were grouped based on the presence or absence of diverticula. Mucosal biopsies were obtained from the sigmoid and transverse colon. Microbiota composition was analyzed with IS-pro, a 16S-23S based bacterial profiling technique. To predict if patients belonged to the asymptomatic diverticulosis or control group a partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) regression model was used. Inflammation was assessed by neutrophil and lymphocyte counts within the taken biopsies.
RESULTS
Forty-three patients were enrolled. Intestinal microbiota profiles were highly similar within individuals for all phyla. Between individuals, microbiota profiles differed substantially but regardless of the presence (n = 19) of absence (n = 24) of diverticula. Microbiota diversity in both sigmoid and transverse colon was similar in all participants. We were not able to differentiate between diverticulosis patients and controls with a PLS-DA model. Mucosal lymphocyte counts were comparable among both groups; no neutrophils were detected in any of the studied biopsies.
CONCLUSIONS
Microbiota composition and inflammatory markers were comparable among asymptomatic diverticulosis patients and controls. This suggests that the gut microbiota and mucosal inflammation do not play a major role in the pathogenesis of diverticula formation.
Topics: Aged; Asymptomatic Diseases; Colon, Sigmoid; Colonoscopy; Diverticulum; Female; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Humans; Immunity, Mucosal; Inflammation; Male; Middle Aged; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
PubMed: 34492052
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256657 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2022The current COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted a need to further understand lung mucosal immunity to reduce the burden of community acquired pneumonia, including that... (Review)
Review
The current COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted a need to further understand lung mucosal immunity to reduce the burden of community acquired pneumonia, including that caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Local mucosal immunity provides the first line of defence against respiratory pathogens, however very little is known about the mechanisms involved, with a majority of literature on respiratory infections based on the examination of peripheral blood. The mortality for severe community acquired pneumonia has been rising annually, even prior to the current pandemic, highlighting a significant need to increase knowledge, understanding and research in this field. In this review we profile key mediators of lung mucosal immunity, the dysfunction that occurs in the diseased lung microenvironment including the imbalance of inflammatory mediators and dysbiosis of the local microbiome. A greater understanding of lung tissue-based immunity may lead to improved diagnostic and prognostic procedures and novel treatment strategies aimed at reducing the disease burden of community acquired pneumonia, avoiding the systemic manifestations of infection and excess morbidity and mortality.
Topics: COVID-19; Community-Acquired Infections; Humans; Immunity, Mucosal; Inflammation Mediators; Pandemics; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 36211412
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.983550 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2022
Topics: Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Immunity, Mucosal; Microbiota
PubMed: 36211406
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1005156 -
Immunology Letters Dec 2022The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the regulation of mucosal immunity and of the function of the intestinal barrier. Dysbiosis is accordingly associated with... (Review)
Review
The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the regulation of mucosal immunity and of the function of the intestinal barrier. Dysbiosis is accordingly associated with rupture of mucosal immune homeostasis, leading to inflammatory intestinal diseases. In this context, probiotic bacteria, including a new generation of intestinal probiotics, can maintain intestinal homeostasis and promote health. Surprisingly, little is known about the impact of fermented dairy products in this context, while they represent our main source of live and active bacteria. Indeed, they provide, through our daily diet, a high number of bacteria whose effect on mucosal immunity deserves attention. Among bacteria ingested in fermented dairy products, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactococcus lactis and Propionibacterium freudenreichii are on top, as they are ingested in high concentrations (close to 10 per gram of product) in fermented milks or cheeses. This review gives an overview of the potential immunomodulatory effects of these main dairy starters. It further explores studies dealing with fermented dairy products containing theses starters, in a context of inflammation.
Topics: Immunity, Mucosal; Health Promotion; Cultured Milk Products; Streptococcus thermophilus; Probiotics; Fermentation
PubMed: 36334759
DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2022.11.002 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2019
Topics: Animals; Antigen Presentation; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Homeostasis; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Immunity, Mucosal; Mucous Membrane
PubMed: 31849958
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02773 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2018
Topics: Animals; Cell Communication; Epithelial Cells; Humans; Immunity, Mucosal; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Intestinal Mucosa; Mucous Membrane; T-Lymphocytes; Wound Healing
PubMed: 29899742
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01171 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2020Many functions of the immune system are impaired in neonates, allowing vulnerability to serious bacterial, viral and fungal infections which would otherwise not be... (Review)
Review
Many functions of the immune system are impaired in neonates, allowing vulnerability to serious bacterial, viral and fungal infections which would otherwise not be pathogenic to mature individuals. This vulnerability is exacerbated in compromised newborns such as premature neonates and those who have undergone surgery or who require care in an intensive care unit. Higher susceptibility of preterm neonates to infections is associated with delayed immune system maturation, with deficiencies present in both the innate and adaptive immune components. Here, we review recent insights into early life immunity, and highlight features associated with compromised newborns, given the challenges of studying neonatal immunity in compromised neonates due to the transient nature of this period of life, and logistical and ethical obstacles posed by undertaking studies newborns and infants. Finally, we highlight how the unique immunological characteristics of the premature host play key roles in the pathogenesis of diseases that are unique to this population, including necrotizing enterocolitis and the associated sequalae of lung and brain injury.
Topics: Enterocolitis, Necrotizing; Humans; Immunity, Mucosal; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature
PubMed: 32499778
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00899 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2022IgGFc-binding protein (FCGBP) is a mucin first detected in the intestinal epithelium. It plays an important role in innate mucosal epithelial defense, tumor metastasis,... (Review)
Review
IgGFc-binding protein (FCGBP) is a mucin first detected in the intestinal epithelium. It plays an important role in innate mucosal epithelial defense, tumor metastasis, and tumor immunity. FCGBP forms disulfide-linked heterodimers with mucin-2 and members of the trefoil factor family. These formed complexes inhibit bacterial attachment to mucosal surfaces, affect the motility of pathogens, and support their clearance. Altered FCGBP expression levels may be important in the pathologic processes of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. FCGBP is also involved in regulating the infiltration of immune cells into tumor microenvironments. Thus, the molecule is a valuable marker of tumor prognosis. This review summarizes the functional relevance and role of FCGBP in immune responses and disease development, and highlights the potential role in diagnosis and predicting tumor prognosis.
Topics: Cell Adhesion Molecules; Humans; Immunity, Mucosal; Intestinal Mucosa; Mucins; Neoplasms; Proteins; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 35936008
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.863317 -
Clinical & Developmental Immunology 2011Interactions between mucosal surfaces and microbial microbiota are key to host defense, health, and disease. These surfaces are exposed to high numbers of microbes and... (Review)
Review
Interactions between mucosal surfaces and microbial microbiota are key to host defense, health, and disease. These surfaces are exposed to high numbers of microbes and must be capable of distinguishing between those that are beneficial or avirulent and those that will invade and cause disease. Our understanding of the mechanisms involved in these discriminatory processes has recently begun to expand as new studies bring to light the importance of epithelial cells and novel immune cell subsets such as T(h)17 T cells in these processes. Elucidating how these mechanisms function will improve our understanding of many diverse diseases and improve our ability to treat patients suffering from these conditions. In our voyage to discover these mechanisms, mucosal interactions with opportunistic commensal organisms such as the fungus Candida albicans provide insights that are invaluable. Here, we review current knowledge of the interactions between C. albicans and epithelial surfaces and how this may shape our understanding of microbial-mucosal interactions.
Topics: Animals; Candida albicans; Candidiasis; Cytokines; Epithelial Cells; Humans; Immunity, Mucosal; Mucous Membrane; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 21776285
DOI: 10.1155/2011/346307