Microbiota-immune system interaction: an uneasy alliance. Curr Opin Microbiol 2011 Feb;14(1):99-105
Date
10/26/2010Pubmed ID
20971034Pubmed Central ID
PMC3029469DOI
10.1016/j.mib.2010.09.018Scopus ID
2-s2.0-79551686484 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 82 CitationsAbstract
An estimated 100 trillion microbes colonize human beings, with the majority of organisms residing in the intestines. This microbiota impacts host nutrition, protection, and gut development. Alterations in microbiota composition are associated with susceptibility to various infectious and inflammatory gut diseases. The mucosal surface is not a static barrier that simply prevents microbial invasion but a critical interface for microbiota-immune system interactions. Recent work suggests that dynamic interactions between microbes and the host immune system at the mucosal surface inform immune responses both locally and systemically. This review focuses on intestinal microbiota-immune interactions leading to intestinal homeostasis, and show that these interactions at the GI mucosal surface are critical for driving both protective and pathological immune responses systemically.
Author List
Salzman NHAuthor
Nita H. Salzman MD, PhD Center Director, Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnimalsDisease Susceptibility
Gastrointestinal Tract
Homeostasis
Humans
Immune System
Metagenome
Mucous Membrane
