Aging-Related Impairments to M Cells in Peyer's Patches Coincide With Disturbances to Paneth Cells.

ABSTRACT: The decline in mucosal immunity during aging increases susceptibility, morbidity and mortality to infections acquired via the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts in the elderly. We previously showed that this immunosenescence includes a reduction in the functional maturation of M cells in the follicle-associated epithelia (FAE) covering the Peyer's patches, diminishing the ability to sample of antigens and pathogens from the gut lumen. Here, co-expression analysis of mRNA-seq data sets revealed a general down-regulation of most FAE- and M cell-related genes in Peyer's patches from aged mice, including key transcription factors known to be essential for M cell differentiation. Conversely, expression of ACE2, the cellular receptor for SARS-Cov-2 virus, was increased in the aged FA

SUBMITTER: Donaldson DS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8687451 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature