title: Interactions of commensal gut microbes with subsets of B- and T-cells in the murine host.
abstract: Although mechanisms operative in the induction and maintenance of specific, adaptive immunity, including 'cognate' B/T interactions, have been extensively studied and defined, we still know little about the mechanisms operative in developing and maintaining B- and T-cell dependent 'natural' immunity. Particularly, we are still rather ignorant concerning gut microbial/gut or systemic APC, T cell and B cell interactions that lead to lymphoid cell mediated 'natural' immunity: specific or broadly reactive, activation via TCR and BCR and/or via other receptors such as the TLR series, and whether T/B interactions are operative at this level? Here we will address: (1) the general role of gut microbes in the development and maintenance of the intestinal, humoral immune system; (2) the general role of gut microbes in the development of B1 cell mediated, 'natural' gut IgA and the dependence of these B1 cells on bystander T cell help; (3) the relative contributions of B1 versus B2 cells to gut 'natural' and specific IgA responses; (4) the role for particular 'normal' gut microbes in the initiation of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in mice with a dysregulated immune system; and (5) the possible roles of gut microbes in facilitating oral tolerance, a mechanism likely operative in forestalling or ameliorating IBD. A central theme of this paper is to attempt to define the specificities of activated, functional CD4+ T cells in the gut for Ags of particular, usually benign gut microbes. We will also consider the still-unresolved issue of whether the contributions of B1-derived IgA in the gut to the 'natural' Ab pool are Ag-selected and driven to proliferation/differentiation or whether the main stimuli are not via BCRs but rather other receptors (TLRs, etc.). The main experimental approach has been to use antigen-free, germ-free, or gnotobiotic (mono- or oligo-associated with precisely known bacterial species) mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6018, USA.
authors.forename: H-Q
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Thurnheer
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Zuercher
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Boiko
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Bos
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cebra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000502:physiology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000382:microbiology*; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A