Journal article
Innate Immunity in the Small Intestine of the Preterm Infant
Neoreviews (Elk Grove Village, Ill.), Vol.12(9), pp.e517-e526
09/2011
DOI: 10.1542/neo.12-9-e517
PMCID: PMC3359837
PMID: 22639551
Abstract
The gastrointestinal tract comprises the largest surface area of the human body. This area is constantly exposed to myriad antigens as well as the large number of bacteria that coexist in the intestinal lumen. To protect against this exposure and help distinguish “self ” from “foreign,” the intestinal tract has evolved a sophisticated barrier defense system that includes both innate and adaptive immune systems. However, infants who are born preterm do not have the benefit of an adequate immune response and, therefore, are more susceptible to bacterial injury, inflammation, and intestinal diseases such as necrotizing enterocolitis. In this review, we discuss the components of innate immunity that help to protect the small intestine as well as current knowledge about the role of these components in the pathophysiology of necrotizing enterocolitis.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Innate Immunity in the Small Intestine of the Preterm Infant
- Creators
- Steven J McElroy - Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TNJörn-Hendrik Weitkamp - Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Neoreviews (Elk Grove Village, Ill.), Vol.12(9), pp.e517-e526
- DOI
- 10.1542/neo.12-9-e517
- PMID
- 22639551
- PMCID
- PMC3359837
- NLM abbreviation
- Neoreviews
- ISSN
- 1526-9906
- eISSN
- 1526-9906
- Grant note
- K08 DK083677 || DK / National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases : NIDDK
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 09/2011
- Academic Unit
- Microbiology and Immunology; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics
- Record Identifier
- 9984093368702771
Metrics
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