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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2017 Nov 20.
Published in final edited form as: Curr Opin Microbiol. 2013 Apr 15;16(2):221–227. doi: 10.1016/j.mib.2013.03.009

Figure 2. The commensal microbiota primes barrier immunity.

Figure 2

Direct stimulation of epithelial Toll-like receptors (TLRs) by commensal MAMPs primes expression of RegIIIγ (a). Production of RegIIIγ is essential to limit microbial contact with host mucosa. As such, defects in TLR function results in deficient RegIIIγ expression resulting in an increased association of commensal microbes with host tissue as well as a heighten risk of infection with enteric pathogens (b). Additionally, reduced TLR stimulation as a consequence of the depletion of the microbiota is sufficient to reduce RegIIIγ expression and render the host susceptible to infection.