Paneth cells directly sense gut commensals and maintain homeostasis at the intestinal host-microbial interface

The intestinal epithelium is in direct contact with a vast microbiota, yet little is known about how epithelial cells defend the host against the heavy bacterial load. To address this question we studied Paneth cells, a key small intestinal epithelial lineage. We found that Paneth cells directly sense enteric bacteria through cell-autonomous MyD88-dependent toll-like receptor (TLR) activation, triggering expression of multiple antimicrobial factors. Paneth cells were essential for controlling intestinal barrier penetration by commensal and pathogenic bacteria. Furthermore, Paneth cell-intrinsic MyD88 signaling limited bacterial penetration of host tissues, revealing a role for epithelial MyD88 in maintaining…

• HH
  Howard Hughes Medical Institute
• CA
  Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America
• CA
  Crohn's and Colitis Foundation
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Award: DK070855