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. 2018 Oct 19;3(28):eaat6975.
doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.aat6975.

Cell surface polysaccharides of Bifidobacterium bifidum induce the generation of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells

Ravi Verma  1 , Changhon Lee  2 , Eun-Ji Jeun  2 , Jaeu Yi  2 , Kwang Soon Kim  1 , Ambarnil Ghosh  1 , Seohyun Byun  2 , Choong-Gu Lee  1 , Hye-Ji Kang  1 , Gi-Cheon Kim  1 , Chang-Duk Jun  3 , Gwenaël Jan  4 , Chang-Hee Suh  5 , Ju-Yang Jung  5 , Jonathan Sprent  2   6 , Dipayan Rudra  1   2 , Cristina De Castro  7   8 , Antonio Molinaro  8   9 , Charles D Surh  1   2 , Sin-Hyeog Im  10   2
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Cell surface polysaccharides of Bifidobacterium bifidum induce the generation of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells

Ravi Verma et al. Sci Immunol. .

Abstract

Dysregulation of intestinal microflora is linked to inflammatory disorders associated with compromised immunosuppressive functions of Foxp3+ T regulatory (Treg) cells. Although mucosa-associated commensal microbiota has been implicated in Treg generation, molecular identities of the "effector" components controlling this process remain largely unknown. Here, we have defined Bifidobacterium bifidum as a potent inducer of Foxp3+ Treg cells with diverse T cell receptor specificity to dietary antigens, commensal bacteria, and B. bifidum itself. Cell surface β-glucan/galactan (CSGG) polysaccharides of B. bifidum were identified as key components responsible for Treg induction. CSGG efficiently recapitulated the activity of whole bacteria and acted via regulatory dendritic cells through a partially Toll-like receptor 2-mediated mechanism. Treg cells induced by B. bifidum or purified CSGG display stable and robust suppressive capacity toward experimental colitis. By identifying CSGG as a functional component of Treg-inducing bacteria, our studies highlight the immunomodulatory potential of CSGG and CSGG-producing microbes.

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Comment in

  • Glycans for good.
    Kaiser KA, Arpaia N. Kaiser KA, et al. Sci Immunol. 2018 Oct 19;3(28):eaav1041. doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.aav1041. Sci Immunol. 2018. PMID: 30341146 Free PMC article. Review.
  • Tame or inflame: gut reactions to pro- and antibiotics.
    Flemming A. Flemming A. Nat Rev Immunol. 2018 Dec;18(12):728-729. doi: 10.1038/s41577-018-0093-4. Nat Rev Immunol. 2018. PMID: 30425346 No abstract available.

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