Psychological stress impairs IL22-driven protective gut mucosal immunity against colonising pathobionts.

ABSTRACT: Crohn's disease is an inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by an aberrant response to microbial and environmental triggers. This includes an altered microbiome dominated by Enterobacteriaceae and in particular adherent-invasive E. coli (AIEC). Clinical evidence implicates periods of psychological stress in Crohn's disease exacerbation, and disturbances in the gut microbiome might contribute to the pathogenic mechanism. Here we show that stress-exposed mice develop ileal dysbiosis, dominated by the expansion of Enterobacteriaceae. In an AIEC colonisation model, stress-induced glucocorticoids promote apoptosis of CD45⁺CD90⁺ cells that normally produce IL-22, a cytokine that is essential for the maintenance of ileal mucosal barrier integrity.

SUBMITTER: Shaler CR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8602651 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature