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Gastroenterology

Respiratory infections

Immunity
Pulmonology Gastroenterology

The microbiota plays a part in the resistance against respiratory infections, but the mechanism is still poorly defined. A recent study revealed that, in gnotobiotic mice,14 the gut microbiota and the respiratory microbiota are involved in the immune response to fight viral or bacterial infections of the upper respiratory tract (in that case caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae or Klebsiella pneumoniae).

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About this article

Created 30 September 2019
Updated 27 October 2021

NOD-like receptors of innate immune cells are activated by commensal bacteria of the microbiota: among others, Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis in the upper respiratory tract and Lactobacillus reuteri, L. crispatus, Enterococcus faecalis as well as Clostridium orbiscindens in the gastrointestinal tract. This leads to the production of IL-17A, probably through the activation of TH17 cells in the intestines and through lymphocytes, NK cells and alveolar macrophages in the upper respiratory tract causing a resistance to pulmonary infections through a specific mechanism.15

Image
Défenses-immunitaires-image-article-6

ROLE OF GM-CSF

The IL-17A then acts on the lungs by activating the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), which in turn activates alveolar macrophages through ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) signaling pathway, that allows the neutralization of the pathogen by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS). The reason why this specific GM-CSF-ERK transduction pathway is used remains unclear.15

Sources

14 Models with simplified microbiota, or even carriers of a single bacterium (mono-associated animals) or carriers of partially-inactivated bacteria


15 Brown RL, Sequeira RP, Clarke TB. The microbiota protects against respiratory infection via GM-CSF signaling. Nat Commun. 2017;8(1):1512. 

Tags
Immunity Gut health Microbiome Flora
    Focus
    Gut microbiota and immune defenses
    • Role of the gut microbiota in the development of the immune system
      • The gut microbiota, first bastion against aggressions
      • Role of the gut microbiota in immune regulation
    • Interactions and pathologies
      • Type I diabetes mellitus
      • Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases
      • Stem cell transplant and graft rejection
      • Respiratory infections
    • What is the potential role of microbiota modulation?
      • Preventing the risk of graft rejection
      • Stimulation of innate and adaptative immune responses
    • Expert interview
      • Pr. Patrice Debré
    Created 30 September 2019
    Updated 27 October 2021

    About this article

    To know more about this topic.

    Main topic

    Immunity

    Medical practice

    Pulmonology Gastroenterology

    Content type

    Dossier detail
    Stem cell transplant and graft rejection
    Preventing the risk of graft rejection
    Focus

    Gut microbiota and immune defenses

    Role of the gut microbiota in the development of the immune system

    The gut microbiota, first bastion against aggressions Role of the gut microbiota in immune regulation

    Interactions and pathologies

    Type I diabetes mellitus Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases Stem cell transplant and graft rejection Respiratory infections

    What is the potential role of microbiota modulation?

    Preventing the risk of graft rejection Stimulation of innate and adaptative immune responses

    Expert interview

    Pr. Patrice Debré
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