title: Mucin-Microbiota Interaction During Postnatal Maturation of the Intestinal Ecosystem: Clinical Implications.
abstract: The mucus layer and gut microbiota interplay contributes to host homeostasis. The mucus layer serves as a scaffold and a carbon source for gut microorganisms; conversely, gut microorganisms, including mucin degraders, influence mucin gene expression, glycosylation, and secretion. Conjointly they shield the epithelium from luminal pathogens, antigens, and toxins. Importantly, the mucus layer and gut microbiota are established in parallel during early postnatal life. During this period, the development of gut microbiota and mucus layer is coupled with that of the immune system. Developmental changes of different mucin types can impact the age-dependent patterns of intestinal infection in terms of incidence and severity. Altered mucus layer, dysbiotic microbiota, and abnormal mucus-gut microbiota interaction have the potential for inducing systemic effects, and accompany several intestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, and radiation-induced mucositis. Early life provides a pivotal window of opportunity to favorably modulate the mucus-microbiota interaction. The support of a health-compatible mucin-microbiota maturation in early life is paramount for long-term health and serves as an important opportunity for clinical intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, FitzGerald Building Room 308a, 150 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S3E2, Canada.
authors.forename: Sana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rokhsefat
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, FitzGerald Building Room 308a, 150 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S3E2, Canada.|Division of Genetics and Development, Toronto Western Research Institute, Toronto, Canada.|Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Aifeng
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, FitzGerald Building Room 308a, 150 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S3E2, Canada. elena.comelli@utoronto.ca.|Centre for Child Nutrition and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. elena.comelli@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Elena M
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5201-5437
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Comelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007422:Intestines / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000382:microbiology*; D064307:Microbiota / Q000502:physiology*; D009077:Mucins / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D009077:Mucins
keywords: Gut microbiota; Intestinal barrier; Mucin; Postnatal maturation