Enteric defensins are essential regulators of intestinal microbial ecology. Nat Immunol 2010 Jan;11(1):76-83
Date
10/27/2009Pubmed ID
19855381Pubmed Central ID
PMC2795796DOI
10.1038/ni.1825Scopus ID
2-s2.0-74049122536 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 930 CitationsAbstract
Antimicrobial peptides are important effectors of innate immunity throughout the plant and animal kingdoms. In the mammalian small intestine, Paneth cell alpha-defensins are antimicrobial peptides that contribute to host defense against enteric pathogens. To determine if alpha-defensins also govern intestinal microbial ecology, we analyzed the intestinal microbiota of mice expressing a human alpha-defensin gene (DEFA5) and in mice lacking an enzyme required for the processing of mouse alpha-defensins. In these complementary models, we detected significant alpha-defensin-dependent changes in microbiota composition, but not in total bacterial numbers. Furthermore, DEFA5-expressing mice had striking losses of segmented filamentous bacteria and fewer interleukin 17 (IL-17)-producing lamina propria T cells. Our data ascribe a new homeostatic role to alpha-defensins in regulating the makeup of the commensal microbiota.
Author List
Salzman NH, Hung K, Haribhai D, Chu H, Karlsson-Sjöberg J, Amir E, Teggatz P, Barman M, Hayward M, Eastwood D, Stoel M, Zhou Y, Sodergren E, Weinstock GM, Bevins CL, Williams CB, Bos NAAuthors
Nita H. Salzman MD, PhD Director, Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of WisconsinCalvin B. Williams MD, PhD Chief, Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnimalsBacteria
Colony Count, Microbial
Ecology
Female
Flow Cytometry
Humans
In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
Interleukin-17
Intestinal Mucosa
Intestine, Small
Intestines
Male
Matrix Metalloproteinase 7
Metagenome
Mice
Mice, Inbred Strains
Mice, Knockout
Mice, Transgenic
Microscopy, Fluorescence
Phylogeny
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer
alpha-Defensins