Could stimulation of the intestinal microbiome be the secret of a healthier old age?



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Could stimulation of the intestinal microbiome be the secret of a healthier old age?

Confocal microscope image of immune cells located in the epithelial lining of the intestine of a young mouse. The cells are localized in specialized lymphoid tissue of the epithelial lining of the intestine, called the Peyer Patch. Here, B and T cells interact to induce an effective antibody response against the gut microbiota. Naïve B cells appear orange, while proliferating cells, including central germ cells, are blue. All T cells are stained green and Foxp3 + regulatory T cells can be recognized by their violet center. Credit: Marisa Stebegg, Babraham Institute.

Fecal grafts of young to elderly mice can stimulate the gut microbiome and revive the intestinal immune system, a study by immunologists at the Babraham Institute, Cambridge, showed. The research is published in the journal Nature Communications aujourd & # 39; hui.

The intestine is one of the organs most severely affected by aging. Age-dependent changes in the intestinal microbiome have been associated with increased fragility, inflammation and increased susceptibility to intestinal disorders. These age-related changes in the intestinal microbiome occur in parallel with a decrease in the function of the intestinal immune system, but until now it was not known whether the two modifications were related.

"Our intestinal microbiomes are made up of hundreds of different types of bacteria, which are essential to our health and play a role in our metabolism, brain function and immune response," says lead researcher Marisa Stebegg. "Our immune system constantly interacts with the bacteria of the gastrointestinal tract.As immunologists who study why our immune system is not functioning as well as we get older, we were interested in determining whether the microbiome composition intestinal might influence the strength of the immune response of the intestine. "

Co-host young and elderly mice (mice naturally like to taste the fecal granules of other mice!) Or more directly perform fecal transfer of young mice to older mice strengthened the immune system of the intestine in older mice, partially correcting for age-related decline.

"To our surprise, co-hosting saved the reduced intestinal immune response in older mice." Looking at the number of immune cells involved, older mice had intestinal immune responses that were almost identical to those in younger mice. commented Dr. Michelle Linterman, Group Head of the Immunology Program at the Babraham Institute.

The results show that the poor intestinal immune response is not irreversible and can be enhanced by appropriate stimuli by rolling back the intestinal immune system to be more like the situation in a young mouse.

The results of the study are relevant for the treatment of age-related symptoms, confirming a link between the effects of the aging immune system and age-related changes in the intestinal microbiome. By demonstrating the effectiveness of interventions having a positive impact on the composition of the intestinal microbiome, this research suggests that fecal, probiotic, cohabitation and diet transplants could all prove to be ways of promoting aging in humans. healthy.


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More information:
Nature Communications (2019). DOI: 10.1038 / s41467-019-10430-7

Provided by
Babraham Institute


Quote:
Could stimulation of the intestinal microbiome be the secret of a healthier old age? (June 4, 2019)
recovered on June 4, 2019
on https://medicalxpress.com/news/2019-06-boosting-gut-microbiome-secret-healthier.html

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