Commensal <i>Escherichia coli</i> colonization triggers Peyer's patch development.

ABSTRACT: The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in shaping mucosal immunity, yet the specific microbes contributing to lymphoid tissue development remain poorly defined. Here, we identify Escherichia coli, a pioneer commensal bacterium, as a key driver of naïve B cell accumulation in gut Peyer's patches and lamina propria via a CXCR2-dependent mechanism. We show that E. coli promotes B cell recruitment through the production of curli amyloid fibers, which signal via Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2). Notably, this effect extends beyond the neonatal period, revealing a broader temporal window for microbial modulation of mucosal immune development. These findings reveal a previously unrecognized role for a defined gut commensal bacterium and its molecular products in orchestrating the formation of gut-associated lymphoid tissue and B cell recruitment.

SUBMITTER: Gerner RR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12632513 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature