Antigen-Specific Mucosal Immunity Regulates Development of Intestinal Bacteria-Mediated Diseases.

Background & Aims: Dysregulation of the microbiome has been associated with development of complex diseases, such as obesity and diabetes. However, no method has been developed to control disease-associated commensal microbes. We investigated whether immunization with microbial antigens, using CpG oligodeoxynucleotides and/or curdlan as adjuvants, induces systemic antigen-specific IgA and IgG production and affects development of diseases in mice.

Expression of newly identified secretory CEACAM1(a) isoforms in the intestinal epithelium.

Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1) regulates intestinal immunological homeostasis. However, precise expression patterns of CEACAM1 isoforms remain poorly understood in the intestinal epithelia. Focusing on the small intestinal epithelium of BALB/c mice, we identified three novel splice variants encoding CEACAM1(a)-2, -2C1, and -4C1 by RT-PCR.

Tonic B cell activation by Radioprotective105/MD-1 promotes disease progression in MRL/lpr mice.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have a crucial role in sensing microbial products and triggering immune responses. Recent reports have indicated that TLR7 and TLR9 have an important role in activating autoreactive B cells. In addition to TLR7 and TLR9, mouse B cells express TLR2, TLR4 and structurally related Radioprotective105 (RP105).