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Updated: Sep 13, 2025
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Application of a Mouse Ligated Peyer’s Patch Intestinal Loop Assay to Evaluate Bacterial Uptake by M cells
Published on: December 17, 2011
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Pyruvate-GPR31 axis induces LysoDC dendrite protrusion to M-cell pockets for effective immune responses
Katsuhiro Nakanishi1, Takayuki Ajiro1, Kaito Yukishima1
1Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan.
Gut Microbes
|August 1, 2025
Summary
Bacterial pyruvate enhances intestinal immunity by activating lysozyme-expressing dendritic cells (LysoDCs) via G-protein coupled receptor 31 (GPR31). This boosts pathogen clearance and T cell responses, conferring resistance to infection.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Peyer's patches (PPs) are key for intestinal immunity, but antigen capture by underlying phagocytes is poorly understood.
- Microfold (M) cells in PPs transfer pathogens, but downstream immune cell activation mechanisms require elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of bacterial metabolites in modulating antigen capture by mononuclear phagocytes in Peyer's patches.
- To elucidate the mechanism by which pyruvate influences dendritic cell function and intestinal immunity.
Main Methods:
- Administration of pyruvate to wild-type and GPR31-deficient mice orally infected with Listeria monocytogenes.
- Analysis of dendritic cell morphology, antigen uptake, gene expression, and migration patterns.
- Assessment of T cell responses (Th1, cytotoxic T cells) and host resistance to infection.
Main Results:
- Pyruvate induced specific dendritic cell (LysoDC) protrusions into M-cell pockets via GPR31.
- Pyruvate enhanced LysoDC uptake of Listeria monocytogenes in a GPR31-dependent manner.
- GPR31 signaling boosted antigen processing, altered gene expression, promoted LysoDC migration, and enhanced pathogen-specific T cell responses.
Conclusions:
- The pyruvate-GPR31 axis is crucial for orchestrating intestinal protective immunity.
- Pyruvate administration confers significant resistance to Listeria monocytogenes infection via GPR31-mediated immune activation.
- This study reveals a novel mechanism for bacterial metabolite-driven immune modulation in the gut.
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