Gut Immunity & Gut Microorganisms: Lifetime Truce?

Your gut is a battleground and a sanctuary—where trillions of microbes and your immune system negotiate a lifelong truce. But what happens when the balance tips?

The gut hosts trillions of microbes that coexist with our immune system in a delicate balance. From birth, immunity is shaped to tolerate beneficial microbes while staying prepared to fight harmful ones. Physical barriers like the intestinal lining and mucus prevent microbial invasion, while immune cells help distinguish friend from foe. Regulatory responses, such as secretory IgA and Tregs, maintain tolerance and prevent unnecessary inflammation.

When harmful invaders appear, the immune system shifts to responding mode, triggering inflammation and recruiting immune cells to clear the threat while minimizing gut damage. This balance is constantly influenced by diet, infections, antibiotics, and stress. Disruptions can lead to chronic inflammation and diseases like IBD. 

this event is part of: Vortragsprogramm: Immunmedizin – gezielt, interdisziplinär, zukunftsweisend