Immunological Function of Food-restricted Germfree and Specific Pathogen-free Mice

Tazume, Seiki; Umehara, Keiko; Matsuzawa, Hideyuki; Yoshida, Toshihide; Hashimoto, Kazuo; Sasaki, Satoshi

doi:10.1538/expanim1978.40.4_523

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 21 publications

(23 reference statements)

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“…Germ-free mice live longer, weigh less, and show decreased basal metabolic rate than mice with conventional microbiota [ 48 , 49 ]. In agreement with our findings of significant goblet cell loss, it has been reported that germ-free mice have fewer and smaller goblet cells in the cecum than conventional mice and that recolonization improves their number [ 50 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sjögren-Like Lacrimal Keratoconjunctivitis in Germ-Free Mice

Wang

Zaheer

Bian

et al. 2018

IJMS

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Commensal bacteria play an important role in the formation of the immune system but their role in the maintenance of immune homeostasis at the ocular surface and lacrimal gland remains poorly understood. This study investigated the eye and lacrimal gland phenotype in germ-free and conventional C57BL/6J mice. Our results showed that germ-free mice had significantly greater corneal barrier disruption, greater goblet cell loss, and greater total inflammatory cell and CD4+ T cell infiltration within the lacrimal gland compared to the conventionally housed group. A greater frequency of CD4+IFN-γ+ cells was observed in germ-free lacrimal glands. Females exhibited a more severe phenotype compared to males. Adoptive transfer of CD4+ T cells isolated from female germ-free mice into RAG1KO mice transferred Sjögren-like lacrimal keratoconjunctivitis. Fecal microbiota transplant from conventional mice reverted dry eye phenotype in germ-free mice and decreased CD4+IFN-γ+ cells to levels similar to conventional C57BL/6J mice. These findings indicate that germ-free mice have a spontaneous lacrimal keratoconjunctivitis similar to that observed in Sjögren syndrome patients and demonstrate that commensal bacteria function in maintaining immune homeostasis on the ocular surface. Thus, manipulation of intestinal commensal bacteria has the potential to become a novel therapeutic approach to treat Sjögren Syndrome.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sjögren-Like Lacrimal Keratoconjunctivitis in Germ-Free Mice

Wang

Zaheer

Bian

et al. 2018

IJMS

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“…An overlap between life span, CR, and the microbiota in both rats and mice has been previously reported. Both CR and ablation of the microbiota increased the median life span of mice (138) and rats (134). However, the combination of CR and microbiome ablation did not have an additive effect on life span, suggesting an overlapping mechanism in the regulation of host longevity.…”

Section: The Microbiota and Host Metabolismmentioning

confidence: 92%

The Microbiome and Aging

2019

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Aging is a natural process of organismal decay that underpins the development of myriad diseases and disorders. Extensive efforts have been made to understand the biology of aging and its regulation, but most studies focus solely on the host organism. Considering the pivotal role of the microbiota in host health and metabolism, we propose viewing the host and its microbiota as a single biological entity whose aging phenotype is influenced by the complex interplay between host and bacterial genetics. In this review we present how the microbiota changes as the host ages, but also how the intricate relationship between host and indigenous bacteria impacts organismal aging and life span. In addition, we highlight other microbiota-dependent mechanisms that potentially regulate aging, and present experimental animal models for addressing these questions. Importantly, we propose microbiome dysbiosis as an additional hallmark and biomarker of aging.

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