The effect of age on the intestinal mucus thickness, microbiota composition and immunity in relation to sex in mice.

ABSTRACT: A mucus layer covers and protects the intestinal epithelial cells from direct contact with microbes. This mucus layer not only prevents inflammation but also plays an essential role in microbiota colonization, indicating the complex interplay between mucus composition-microbiota and intestinal health. However, it is unknown whether the mucus layer is influenced by age or sex and whether this contributes to reported differences in intestinal diseases in males and females or with ageing. Therefore, in this study we investigated the effect of age on mucus thickness, intestinal microbiota composition and immune composition in relation to sex. The ageing induced shrinkage of the colonic mucus layer was associated with bacterial penetration and direct contact of bacteria with the epithelium in b

SUBMITTER: Elderman M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5595324 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature