HEALTH NEWS

Study Title:

Intestinal IgA synthesis: a primitive form of adaptive immunity that regulates microbial communities in the gut.

Study Abstract

Our intestine is colonized by an impressive community of commensals that has profound effects on the immune functions. The relationship between gut microbiota and the immune system is one of reciprocity: Commensals have important contributions in nutrient processing and education of the immune system, and, conversely, the immune system, particularly gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT), plays a key role in shaping the repertoire of gut microbiota. In this chapter we attempt to discuss the mechanisms that underlie this reciprocity and emphasize the key role of mucosal IgA in maintenance of an appropriate segmental distribution of microbiota, which is necessary for immune homeostasis.