title: Digestive tract microflora liberates low molecular weight peptides with immunotriggering activity.
abstract: Antibiotic digestive tract decontamination in BALB/c-mice resulted in a significant reduction of peritoneal macrophage function and lymphocyte proliferation. Considerable evidence has accumulated showing that certain species of the indigenous gastrointestinal (GI)-tract microflora, e.g. Bacteroides sp., Clostridium sp., Lactobacillus sp., and Propionibacterium sp., liberate low molecular weight peptides which are able to trigger basic immune responses. Eradication of the GI-tract microflora apparently results in a lack of peptide production correlating to immunosuppression in experimental BALB/c-mice. Substitution of peptides in GI-tract decontaminated mice reconstituted macrophage function as well as proliferation of lymphatic tissue.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Universität zu Köln.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pulverer
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Roszkowski
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beuth
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yassin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jeljaszewicz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D004064:Digestive System / Q000382:microbiology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008802:Mezlocillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009929:Organ Size; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D008802:Mezlocillin