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Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Analyses of Murine Intestinal Microbiota After Oral Antibiotic Treatment
Published on: November 17, 2018
Alterations in the gut microbiota are associated with changes in intestinal antibody production in KK-Ay mice
Miho Chikazawa1, Ken-Ichiro Minato1
1Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan.
Introduction:
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) develops due to multiple factors, including dietary and lifestyle habits and genetic predisposition. In addition, alterations in the immune system have been suggested to be involved in the onset and progression of T2DM. KK-Ay mice, which spontaneously develop T2DM, reportedly exhibit increased IgA antibody production in the intestine and changes in the IgA antibody repertoire. This study investigated changes in the intestinal immune system in T2DM and their underlying mechanisms in KK-Ay mice.
Methods And Results:
Flow cytometric analysis of immune cells in Peyer's patches, mesenteric lymph nodes, and the small intestinal lamina propria revealed an increased frequency and activation of immune cells involved in T cell-dependent IgA production pathways. Additionally, KK-Ay mice showed marked changes in the composition of the small intestinal microbiota, along with an increase in bacteria-bound IgA antibodies.
Conclusion:
In KK-Ay mice, intestinal antibody production was induced, and changes were also observed in the interaction between the gut microbiota and antibodies, suggesting a reciprocal relationship between these factors. Elucidating the relationship between alterations in the intestinal immune system and disease is expected to contribute to the understanding of disease mechanisms and the development of preventive strategies.
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