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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2018 Mar 1.
Published in final edited form as: Free Radic Biol Med. 2016 Nov 10;105:28–34. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2016.11.013

Fig. 2. Bacteria from the environment interface with mammalian biology via vast mucosal surfaces of the GI tract.

Fig. 2

Gut epithelial cells and antigen-presenting cells comprise the initial interactions with GI tract bacteria. Innate and adaptive immune cells amplify signaling to eliminate pathogens and stimulate tissue repairs. Subsequently, Interleukin-10 and regulatory T (Treg) cell subsets enforce local homeostasis to minimize collateral tissue damage. Rapid return to homeostasis stabilizes epithelial barriers to reduce translocation of bacteria [sepsis] and restore lower systemic inflammatory tone. Infiltrating neutrophil precursors are important mediators of cancer. Shown are neutrophil precursor cells (arrow) in the stroma of mouse mammary cancer. Bar=25 μm.