Abstract
The intestinal immune system recognizes and responds to the vast diversity of microbes
present within the gut. Highly sophisticated cellular and molecular networks are continuously
coordinated to tolerate the presence of a large number and diversity of bacteria on
mucosal surfaces. Different types of bacteria induce different immune responses, and
bacterial metabolism of dietary factors generates metabolites that have significant
effects on host immune responses. Dendritic cells, epithelial cells, innate lymphoid
cells, T-regulatory cells, effector lymphocytes, natural killer T cells, and B-cell
responses can all be influenced by the microbiome. Many of the mechanisms being described
are bacterial strain or metabolite-specific. A better understanding of the mechanisms
governing microbiome–host immune responses will likely lead to novel therapeutics
for inflammatory disorders.
Keywords
microbiome - innate immune system - adaptive immune system - short-chain fatty acids
- histamine