This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Klaasen, H L Articles by Beynen, A C Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Klaasen, H L Articles by Beynen, A C

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Infect Immun. 1993 January; 61(1): 303-306

Apathogenic, intestinal, segmented, filamentous bacteria stimulate the mucosal immune system of mice.

Central Animal Laboratory, Catholic University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

ABSTRACT

Segmented filamentous bacteria (SFBs) are apathogenic autochthonous bacteria in the murine small intestine that preferentially attach to Peyer's patch epithelium. SFBs have never been cultured in vitro. We have studied the effects of SFBs on the immune system of the host. Mice monoassociated with SFBs were compared with germ-free mice and with mice without SFBs but with a specific-pathogen-free (SPF) gut flora. SFBs versus no microbial flora raised the number of lymphoid cells in the lamina propria of the ileal and cecal mucosa, raised the number of immunoglobulin A (IgA)-secreting cells in the intestinal mucosa, produced elevated IgA titers in serum and intestinal secretions, and enhanced the concanavalin A-induced proliferative responses of mesenteric lymph node cells. The SPF flora had effects similar to but less pronounced than those mediated by SFBs. The results indicate that SFBs stimulate the mucosal immune system to a greater extent than do other autochthonous gut bacteria.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Ramsburg, E., Tigelaar, R., Craft, J., Hayday, A. (2003). Age-dependent Requirement for {gamma}{delta} T Cells in the Primary but Not Secondary Protective Immune Response against an Intestinal Parasite. JEM 198: 1403-1414 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Yang, R., Gallo, D. J., Baust, J. J., Watkins, S. K., Delude, R. L., Fink, M. P. (2002). Effect of hemorrhagic shock on gut barrier function and expression of stress-related genes in normal and gnotobiotic mice. Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol. 283: R1263-R1274 [Abstract] [Full Text]