Healthy individuals possess circulating antibodies against their indigenous faecal microflora as well as against allogenous faecal microflora: an immunomorphometrical study

Abstract

SummaryHealthy persons were shown to possess circulating antibodies of both IgA, IgG and IgM isotype directed against the bacteria of their faecal microflora, assessed by immunomorphometry. After removal, by absorption, of the fraction of antibodies directed against the autochthonous faecal bacteria or cross-reacting with allogenous faecal bacteria, there were still antibodies left directed against allogenous faecal bacteria of both the IgA, IgG and IgM isotype. However, relatively more antibodies of the IgA isotype appeared to be directed against allogenous bacteria than against indigenous faecal bacteria. Persons who reacted with specific antibodies to many bacteria of their own flora also tended to react specifically to bacteria in the allogenous microflora of the other volunteers. The patterns of antibodies directed to faecal bacteria of different morphologies (morphotypes) were unique for each individual.

Lactobacillus fermentumME-3 – an antimicrobial and antioxidative probiotic

“…Some 20 years ago Dutch scientists showed that in the case of Crohn's disease in monozygotic twins, the quantitative composition of normal faecal microflora was genetically determined (24). Importantly, the data showed that the pattern of antibodies directed to the faecal bacteria of different morphotypes was unique for each individual, thus confirming the genetic influences of the host on their indigenous microbiota (25,26). …”

Molecularly assessed shifts ofBifidobacteriumssp. and less diverse microbial communities are characteristic of 5-year-old allergic children

“…The gut has been considered the most important immune functionrelated organ as c. 70-80% of the immune cells of the body are present in the intestinal mucosa (Brandtzaeg et al, 1989;Munoz-Lopez, 2004). The different components of intestinal microbiota stimulate the production of different cytokines and may enhance immune responses (Apperlo-Renkema et al, 1993;Kimura et al, 1997;Karlsson et al, 2002). The increasing allergic disorders are multifactorial diseases, the aetiopathogenesis of which is correlated with the composition of gut microbiota (Björkstén et al, 1999(Björkstén et al, , 2001Böttcher et al, 2000;Watanabe et al, 2003;Bischoff & Crowe, 2004;McKevith & Theobald, 2005) The Bifidobacterium strains of the gastro-intestinal tract may differentially exert antimicrobial activity, suggesting their participation in the 'barrier effect' or 'colonization resistance' produced by indigenous microbiota (Liévin et al, 2000).…”

Intestinal microbiota and immunoglobulin E responses in 5‐year‐old Estonian children

“…The normal microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract are a major stimulus for the post‐natal maturation of T cell function [13, 14]. Cell wall components of intestinal microbiota stimulate the production of different cytokines and may enhance immune responses [15–17]. Recognition of these signals is mediated by a series of receptors, e.g.…”