Friend or foe? Lactobacillus in the context of autoimmune disease
Loading...
Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Advances in immunology
Abstract
Over the last decade, the interplay between the gut microbiota, the consortium of intes-
tinal microbes that colonizes intestinal mucosal barriers, and its host immune system
has been increasingly better understood. Disruption of the delicate balance between
beneficial and pathogenic commensals, known as dysbiosis, contributes to a variety
of chronic immunologic and metabolic diseases. Complicating this paradigm are bac-
terial strains that can operate paradoxically both as instigators and attenuators of inflam-
matory responses, depending on host background. Here, we review the role of several
strains in the genus Lactobacillus within the context of autoimmune and other chronic
disorders with a predominant focus on L. reuteri. While strains within this species have
been shown to provide immune health benefits, they have also been demonstrated
to act as a pathobiont in autoimmune-prone hosts. Beneficial functions in healthy
hosts include competing with pathogenic microbes, promoting regulatory T cell devel-
opment, and protecting the integrity of the gut barrier. On the other hand, certain
strains can also break through a dysfunctional gut barrier, colonize internal tissues such as the spleen or liver and promote inflammatory responses in host tissues that
lead to autoimmune disease. This review summarizes the manifold roles that these
commensals play in the context of health and disease.
Description
Keywords
Friend, Foe, Lactobacillus, Autoimmune disease
Citation
Fine, R. L., Mubiru, D. L., & Kriegel, M. A. (2020). Friend or foe? Lactobacillus in the context of autoimmune disease. Advances in immunology, 146, 29-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.ai.2020.02.002