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The impact of the gut microbiota on T cell ontogeny in the thymus

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Abstract

The intestinal microbiota is critical for the development of gut-associated lymphoid tissues, including Peyer’s patches and mesenteric lymph nodes, and is instrumental in educating the local as well as systemic immune system. In addition, it also impacts the development and function of peripheral organs, such as liver, lung, and the brain, in health and disease. However, whether and how the intestinal microbiota has an impact on T cell ontogeny in the hymus remains largely unclear. Recently, the impact of molecules and metabolites derived from the intestinal microbiota on T cell ontogeny in the thymus has been investigated in more detail. In this review, we will discuss the recent findings in the emerging field of the gut-thymus axis and we will highlight the current questions and challenges in the field.

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Funding

This work was supported by the CIHR grant (PJT-156073) to M.B. Geuking.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada

    Roopa Hebbandi Nanjundappa & Markus B. Geuking

  2. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada

    Roopa Hebbandi Nanjundappa & Channakeshava Sokke Umeshappa

  3. Department of Pediatrics, IWK Research Center, Halifax, NS, Canada

    Roopa Hebbandi Nanjundappa & Channakeshava Sokke Umeshappa

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  1. Roopa Hebbandi Nanjundappa
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  2. Channakeshava Sokke Umeshappa
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  3. Markus B. Geuking
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MBG and RHN contributed to conceptualization:. RHN, CSU, and MBG were involved in writing and editing.

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Correspondence to Markus B. Geuking.

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Hebbandi Nanjundappa, R., Sokke Umeshappa, C. & Geuking, M.B. The impact of the gut microbiota on T cell ontogeny in the thymus. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 79, 221 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-022-04252-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-022-04252-y

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