Role of TH1/Th2/Th3/regulatory T cells in mucosal Immune development

CHIRDO F

Columbus

Conferencia; 109th Abbott Nutrition Research Conference; 2008

Abbott Nutrition

The gastrointestinal tract is in constant contact with food proteins, commensals, and potentially pathogenic microorganisms. To maintain immune homeostasis in this environment, the intestinal immune system has developed redundant regulatory strategies. Soluble factors such as transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), interleukin-10 (IL-10), thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), and cells such as tolerogenic dendritic cells (DCs), and a subset of T-helper cells (regulatory T cells or Tregs) play a role in the control of the immune response to avoid overreaction and excessive tissue damage. Oral administration of protein antigens induces systemic immunological tolerance, a phenomenon largely known as oral tolerance. Failure in the regulatory mechanism may lead to dietary-antigen-derived pathology such as food allergy or celiac disease. Similarly, aberrant immune response against components of commensal flora may trigger inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.