Programmed and environmental determinants driving neonatal mucosal immune development

Immunity, vol. 56, pp. 485–499

Abstract

The mucosal immune system of neonates goes through successive, non-redundant phases that support the developmental needs of the infant and ultimately establish immune homeostasis. These phases are informed by environmental cues, including dietary and microbial stimuli, but also evolutionary developmental programming that functions independently of external stimuli. The immune response to exogenous stimuli is tightly regulated during early life; thresholds are set within this neonatal "window of opportunity" that govern how the immune system will respond to diet, the microbiota, and pathogenic microorganisms in the future. Thus, changes in early-life exposure, such as breastfeeding or environmental and microbial stimuli, influence immunological and metabolic homeostasis and the risk of developing diseases such as asthma/allergy and obesity.

Authors 3

1. Natalia Torow Aachen Institute of Medical Microbiology

   RWTH Aachen University · Universitätsklinikum Aachen

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Medical Microbiology, RWTH University Hospital, Aachen, Germany

2. Timothy Wesley Hand corresponding

   University of Pittsburgh · Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh · University of Pittsburgh Medical Center · UPMC Health System

   Affiliation as printed

   Pediatrics Department, Infectious Disease Section, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA. Electronic address: timothy.hand@chp.edu

   Pediatrics Department, Infectious Disease Section, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA

3. Mathias Walter Hornef corresponding Aachen Institute of Medical Microbiology

   RWTH Aachen University · Universitätsklinikum Aachen

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Medical Microbiology, RWTH University Hospital, Aachen, Germany. Electronic address: mhornef@ukaachen.de

   Institute of Medical Microbiology, RWTH University Hospital, Aachen, Germany