Ria F, Delogu G, Ingrosso L, Sali M, Di Sante G. Secrets and lies of host-microbial interactions: MHC restriction and trans-regulation of T cell trafficking conceal the role of microbial agents on the edge between health and multifactorial/complex diseases.
Cell Mol Life Sci 2024;
81:40. [PMID:
38216734 PMCID:
PMC11071949 DOI:
10.1007/s00018-023-05040-y]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Here we critically discuss data supporting the view that microbial agents (pathogens, pathobionts or commensals alike) play a relevant role in the pathogenesis of multifactorial diseases, but their role is concealed by the rules presiding over T cell antigen recognition and trafficking. These rules make it difficult to associate univocally infectious agents to diseases' pathogenesis using the paradigm developed for canonical infectious diseases. (Cross-)recognition of a variable repertoire of epitopes leads to the possibility that distinct infectious agents can determine the same disease(s). There can be the need for sequential infection/colonization by two or more microorganisms to develop a given disease. Altered spreading of infectious agents can determine an unwanted activation of T cells towards a pro-inflammatory and trafficking phenotype, due to differences in the local microenvironment. Finally, trans-regulation of T cell trafficking allows infectious agents unrelated to the specificity of T cell to modify their homing to target organs, thereby driving flares of disease. The relevant role of microbial agents in largely prevalent diseases provides a conceptual basis for the evaluation of more specific therapeutic approaches, targeted to prevent (vaccine) or cure (antibiotics and/or Biologic Response Modifiers) multifactorial diseases.
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