title: Role of natural killer and dendritic cell crosstalk in immunomodulation by commensal bacteria probiotics.
abstract: A cooperative dialogue between natural killer (NK) cells and dendritic cells (DCs) has been elucidated in the last years. They help each other to acquire their complete functions, both in the periphery and in the secondary lymphoid organs. Thus, NK cells' activation by dendritic cells allows the killing of transformed or infected cells in the periphery but may also be important for the generation of adaptive immunity. Indeed, it has been shown that NK cells may play a key role in polarizing a Th1 response upon interaction with DCs exposed to microbial products. This regulatory role of DC/NK cross-talk is of particular importance at mucosal surfaces such as the intestine, where the immune system exists in intimate association with commensal bacteria such as lactic acid bacteria (LAB). We here review NK/DC interactions in the presence of gut-derived commensal bacteria and their role in bacterial strain-dependent immunomodulatory effects. We particularly aim to highlight the ability of distinct species of commensal bacterial probiotics to differently affect the outcome of DC/NK cross-talk and consequently to differently influence the polarization of the adaptive immune response.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunology and Biotherapy, Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rizzello
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bonaccorsi
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Dongarrà
authors.forename: Lisbeth Nielsen
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferlazzo
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D056747:Immunomodulation; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D019936:Probiotics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors