Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

In Vivo Photolabeling of Cells in the Colon to Assess Migratory Potential of Hematopoietic Cells in Neonatal Mice
08:39

In Vivo Photolabeling of Cells in the Colon to Assess Migratory Potential of Hematopoietic Cells in Neonatal Mice

Published on: August 10, 2018

Interplay between human leukocyte antigen genes and the microbial colonization process of the newborn intestine

G De Palma1, A Capilla, I Nadal

  • 1Ecofisicologia Microbiana, Instituto de Agroquimica y Tecnologia de Alimentos (CSIC), Valencia, Spain.

Current Issues in Molecular Biology
|May 30, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Genetic predisposition to coeliac disease (CD) influences early gut bacteria colonization in infants. Higher-risk infants show distinct microbial profiles, suggesting a link between HLA-DQ genes and gut microbiome development.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiome research
  • Genetics
  • Pediatric gastroenterology

Background:

  • Coeliac disease (CD) development is multifactorial, involving genetic predisposition (HLA-DQ2/DQ8) and environmental triggers.
  • The early gut microbiome plays a crucial role in immune system development and may influence CD pathogenesis.
  • Understanding the interplay between host genetics and the infant gut microbiome is key to deciphering CD etiology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ genotype on the gut microbial colonization process in breast-fed infants at risk for CD.
  • To determine if genetic risk stratification correlates with specific bacterial group abundances in early life.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 20 newborns with a family history of CD were genotyped for HLA-DQ risk.
  • Faecal microbiota was analyzed at 7 days, 1 month, and 4 months using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).
  • Bacterial group proportions were compared across high, intermediate, and low genetic risk groups.

Main Results:

  • Infants with high genetic risk for CD exhibited significantly higher proportions of Gram-negative bacteria and the Bacteroides-Prevotella group compared to intermediate and low-risk groups.
  • Specific bacterial groups, including E. coli, Streptococcus-Lactococcus, and sulphate-reducing bacteria, were elevated in high-risk infants.
  • These microbial differences correlated with genetic risk and were influenced by the number and type of CD relatives.

Conclusions:

  • The study suggests a significant relationship between HLA-DQ genes and the gut microbial colonization patterns in infants at risk for CD.
  • These findings indicate that genetic predisposition may shape the early gut microbiome, potentially contributing to CD development.
  • This research opens new avenues for investigating CD by considering the host-microbiome-gene interactions from infancy.

More Related Videos

An Intestinal Gut Organ Culture System for Analyzing Host-Microbiota Interactions05:27

An Intestinal Gut Organ Culture System for Analyzing Host-Microbiota Interactions

Published on: June 30, 2021

Isolation of Leukocytes from the Human Maternal-fetal Interface08:19

Isolation of Leukocytes from the Human Maternal-fetal Interface

Published on: May 21, 2015

Related Concept Videos

Introduction to the Human Microbiota01:22

Introduction to the Human Microbiota

Microorganisms colonize various regions of the human body, including the mouth, nasal passages, throat, stomach, intestines, urogenital tract, and skin. The total number of microbial cells is estimated to range from 10¹³ to 10¹⁴—comparable to, or exceeding, the number of human somatic cells. This host–microbiome relationship has led to the conceptualization of humans as supraorganisms, wherein microbial communities perform vital roles in development, immunity, and disease...
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
Anatomy of the Intestines01:23

Anatomy of the Intestines

Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the small...
Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity01:26

Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity

An antigen is any substance the immune system identifies as foreign and potentially harmful to the body, prompting an immune response. Antigens have two functional properties: immunogenicity and reactivity. Immunogenicity is the ability of an antigen to stimulate a specific immune response. At the same time, reactivity describes the antigen's ability to react with the cells and antibodies produced in response to it.
Complete Antigens
Complete antigens possess both immunogenicity and reactivity.