The mechanisms mediating serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) responses and their potential role in protective immunity remain unknown. Wilmore and colleagues show that members of the Proteobacteria phylum in the gut of mice promote a T cell-dependent increase in serum IgA and IgA-secreting bone marrow plasma cells. A recent study suggested that individuals with IgA deficiencies may be more susceptible to sepsis. Accordingly, transfer of proteobacteria-rich microbiotia to mice conferred serum IgA-mediated protection against sepsis.
References
Wilmore, J. R. et al. Commensal microbes induce serum IgA responses that protect against polymicrobial sepsis. Cell Host Microbe https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2018.01.005 (2018)
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Crunkhorn, S. Gut bacteria induce protective IgA. Nat Rev Drug Discov 17, 242 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd.2018.49
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd.2018.49