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Adjuvant Activity of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis in Enhancing the Immunogenicity of Autoantigens During Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
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Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infects and multiplies in enteric glial cells

Leonardo A Sechi1, Anne Ruehl, Niyaz Ahmed

  • 1Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Sezione di Microbiologia Sperimentale e Clinica, Universita degli studi di Sassari, Viale S. Pietro 43/B, Sassari 07100, Italy. sechila@uniss.it

World Journal of Gastroenterology
|October 30, 2007
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) shows high affinity for enteric glial cells, suggesting a role in Crohn's disease pathogenesis. Understanding this interaction may reveal new therapeutic targets for this complex inflammatory condition.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Microbiology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with complex etiology.
  • Enteric glial cells play a crucial role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis and immune responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of enteric glial cells in the context of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection.
  • To determine the interaction between MAP and enteric glial cells in relation to Crohn's disease.

Main Methods:

  • Performed MAP adhesion experiments on isolated enteric glial cells.
  • Analyzed the expression of MAP sigma factors during infection under various growth conditions.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated a high affinity of MAP for enteric glial cells, a novel finding.
  • Characterized the expression patterns of MAP sigma factors in response to host cell interaction.

Conclusions:

  • The high affinity of MAP to enteric glial cells highlights their potential significance in Crohn's disease pathogenesis.
  • Further research into the mechanisms of inflammation altering enteric neural control could lead to innovative Crohn's disease treatments.

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