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International Journal of Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics Volume 4 (2018), Article ID 4:IJCND-132, 10 pages
https://doi.org/10.15344/2456-8171/2018/132
Review Article
Creation of the World: Regulation of Development of Host Immunity by Microbiota from Birth Onwards

Ger T. Rijkers1,2*, Ciska Lindelauf1, Wieke Kagenaar1, Nicole B. Rutten3* and Frans J. van Overveld1

1Department of Science, University College Roosevelt, Middelburg, The Netherlands
2Laboratory for Medical Microbiology and Immunology, St Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
3Department of Pediatrics, St Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
Prof. Ger T. Rijkers, Department of Sciences, University College Roosevelt, P.O. Box 94 4330 AB Middelburg, The Netherlands, Tel: +31 (0)118 655 500, Fax: +31 (0)118 655 508; E-mail: anna.scottodabusco@uniroma1.it
Dr. Nicole B. Rutten, Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; E-mail: b.rutten@maastrichtuniversity.nl
06 April 2018; 28 June 2018; 30 June 2018
Rijkers GT, Lindelauf C, Kagenaar W, Rutten NB, van Overveld FJ, et al. (2018) Creation of the World: Regulation of Development of Host Immunity by Microbiota from Birth Onwards. Int J Clin Nutr Diet 4: 132. doi: https://doi.org/10.15344/2456-8171/2018/132

Abstract

Human fetal development takes place in the sterile environment of the uterus. The development of the immune system starts as early as 8 weeks gestation. Directly after birth, in fact already during the birth process, the newborn baby comes into contact with bacteria from the environment, and the gastrointestinal tract becomes colonized with microbiota. This also marks the first contacts of the (mucosal) immune system with microbial antigens. The early exposure to a variety of microbial stimuli regulates the balanced development of the neonatal immune system. On the other hand, the activity of the immune stem also shapes the composition and functionality of the gut microbiota. The cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these interactions will be discussed in this review, as well as the implications for maintenance of homeostasis and prevention of (immune mediated) diseases.