SPEAKER
Prof Kiyoshi TAKEDA
Professor, Department of Microbiology and
Immunology, Graduate School of Medicin and
of Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, WPI
Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka
University, Japan
HOST:
Department of Infection and Immunity
RESPONSIBLE LIH SCIENTIST:
Dr Mahesh Desai (mahesh.desai@lih.lu)
www.lih.lu
Supported by:
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MECHANISMS FOR REGULATION OF INTESTINAL HOMEOSTASIS
ABSTRACT
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Intestine is a unique tissue where a variety of environmental
factors including commensal microbiota
and dietary components exist. In a healthy
condition, activity of intestinal immunity is finely
regulated to prevent inflammatory responses to
these environmental factors. Dysregulated interaction
of intestinal environmental factors and intestinal
immunity causes development of inflammatory
bowel disease (IBD) represented by Crohn’s disease
and ulcerative colitis.
We are analyzing the mechanisms by which gut
homeostasis is regulated by focusing on intestinal
innate immunity. There are several unique subsets
of innate immune cells in the murine intestinal lamina
propria, which regulate immune responses
positively and negatively. We then identified human
counterparts of these cell subsets in the human
colon, and activity of these subsets were altered in
IBD patients. Thus, intestinal innate immune cells
are critically involved in the pathogenesis of
intestinal inflammation.
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We also analyze barrier function of colonic epithelial
cells that are responsible for segregation of intestinal
environmental factors and immunity, contributing
to prevention of intestinal inflammation. Indeed,
the presence of bacteria on the epithelial surface of
the large intestine was reported in several mouse
models of intestinal inflammation. We identified a
molecule that is produced from the epithelial cells
and is responsible for the segregation of microbiota
and the host immunity. This molecule is thus
essential for the maintenance of gut homeostasis.
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* Opposite Luxembourg Institute of Health, House of BioHealth, 29, rue Henri Koch L-4354 Esch/Alzette
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