Regulator of Mysterious Gut Antibodies Identified
Published:06 Aug.2020 Source:The Scientist
In the gut wall, activated B cells (also known as plasma cells) are continuously making antibodies against intestinal microbes. They do this with and without the help of T cells and, while much is understood about the T cell–dependent antibody production pathway, how the T cell–independent process is regulated was unclear.
Now, researchers have discovered a master controller of T cell–independent antibody production, reporting the finding in Science Immunology (July 31). However, the role of these antibodies in regulating the gut microbiome or host health remains elusive.