Specialized immune cells inhabit all organs and compartments of the body. Under steady-state conditions, they maintain tissue homeostasis and integrity. As immune cells, they respond to virtually all pathological conditions. Interestingly, complex interactions between the commensal host microbiota and the immune system were uncovered in the past years. It was demonstrated that various facets of the immune system (including development, maturation, function or immune response) critically rely on signals from the gut. Thereby, it was shown that different bacteria-derived molecules have effects on distinct immune cells.
In the context of the central nervous system (CNS) these complex and multifaceted interactions between the gut bacteria and the CNS are conceptualized in the so-called gut-brain axis. In general, CNS function and properties (including behavior, myelination, neurogenesis, disease conditions, pain and many others) were shown being shaped by gut microorganisms. Microglia are the main innate immune cells in the CNS and are functionally involved in many of these processes. Since microglial features are controlled by gut bacteria via gut-derived short-chain fatty acids, microglia might be a central hub mediating gut signals on CNS function.
In line with preclinical studies that were mostly carried out with mouse models, numerous studies analyzed the microbiome and its impact on disease pathogenesis in patient cohorts suffering from e.g. neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), cancer (e.g. gliomas), stroke as well as autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. However, the underlying cellular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Further, it is not yet fully understood, how microbiome signatures and abundance of bacterial-derived molecules vary across species and whether and how the host microbiota is affecting the immune system in other species.
In this Research Topic, we aim to highlight microbiota-related findings and data in murine models but also in other species dealing with immune cell function in healthy and diseased conditions in the CNS and other organs. We welcome particularly reports on immune function in the context of steady-state and pathological conditions. In addition, we also welcome studies and literature summaries on advances in the understanding of gut-CNS interaction and crosstalk, new findings on how gut microbiota influence immune cells, and contribute to tissue homeostasis as well as how commensal bacteria-derived signals regulate immune cell functions.
Analysis of microbiota and immune cell function - and the comparison in different organisms - might deepen our knowledge about factors regulating the immune system and might help understand the immune responses during different diseases such as neurodegeneration, cancer, infections or metabolic diseases.
We encourage contributions as Original Research and Review articles covering interesting new findings on microbiota - immune cell interaction in different species. In particular, we aim to cover the following topics:
• Influence of microbiota on immune function in steady-state conditions (e.g. normal development, maturation, and aging).
• Influence of microbiota on immune function in pathological conditions (e.g. inflammatory diseases, cancer, neurodegeneration, stroke, metabolic diseases, tissue repair and regeneration).
• Comparative microbiome analysis in different species and its relevance for immune function.
Specialized immune cells inhabit all organs and compartments of the body. Under steady-state conditions, they maintain tissue homeostasis and integrity. As immune cells, they respond to virtually all pathological conditions. Interestingly, complex interactions between the commensal host microbiota and the immune system were uncovered in the past years. It was demonstrated that various facets of the immune system (including development, maturation, function or immune response) critically rely on signals from the gut. Thereby, it was shown that different bacteria-derived molecules have effects on distinct immune cells.
In the context of the central nervous system (CNS) these complex and multifaceted interactions between the gut bacteria and the CNS are conceptualized in the so-called gut-brain axis. In general, CNS function and properties (including behavior, myelination, neurogenesis, disease conditions, pain and many others) were shown being shaped by gut microorganisms. Microglia are the main innate immune cells in the CNS and are functionally involved in many of these processes. Since microglial features are controlled by gut bacteria via gut-derived short-chain fatty acids, microglia might be a central hub mediating gut signals on CNS function.
In line with preclinical studies that were mostly carried out with mouse models, numerous studies analyzed the microbiome and its impact on disease pathogenesis in patient cohorts suffering from e.g. neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), cancer (e.g. gliomas), stroke as well as autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. However, the underlying cellular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Further, it is not yet fully understood, how microbiome signatures and abundance of bacterial-derived molecules vary across species and whether and how the host microbiota is affecting the immune system in other species.
In this Research Topic, we aim to highlight microbiota-related findings and data in murine models but also in other species dealing with immune cell function in healthy and diseased conditions in the CNS and other organs. We welcome particularly reports on immune function in the context of steady-state and pathological conditions. In addition, we also welcome studies and literature summaries on advances in the understanding of gut-CNS interaction and crosstalk, new findings on how gut microbiota influence immune cells, and contribute to tissue homeostasis as well as how commensal bacteria-derived signals regulate immune cell functions.
Analysis of microbiota and immune cell function - and the comparison in different organisms - might deepen our knowledge about factors regulating the immune system and might help understand the immune responses during different diseases such as neurodegeneration, cancer, infections or metabolic diseases.
We encourage contributions as Original Research and Review articles covering interesting new findings on microbiota - immune cell interaction in different species. In particular, we aim to cover the following topics:
• Influence of microbiota on immune function in steady-state conditions (e.g. normal development, maturation, and aging).
• Influence of microbiota on immune function in pathological conditions (e.g. inflammatory diseases, cancer, neurodegeneration, stroke, metabolic diseases, tissue repair and regeneration).
• Comparative microbiome analysis in different species and its relevance for immune function.