Linked Life Data

18495461

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/18495461

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
2008-12-8
pubmed:abstractText
Vitamin A and its derivatives have been shown to regulate the growth and differentiation of gastrointestinal epithelial cells; in addition, vitamin A deficiency has been convincingly shown to be associated with increased susceptibility to infection. The gastrointestinal mucosal barrier, which is a component of the innate immune system, is considered the first line of defense, as it provides a barrier between the external environment and the internal milieu. A disturbance in the integrity of the intestinal epithelium is one of the main factors involved in increased incidence of infections during vitamin A deficiency. In this study, the effects of vitamin A deficiency on microbial ecology and the expression of genes related to the intestinal mucosa's innate immunity were examined in a rat model. Using the 16s rDNA method, we demonstrate that a vitamin A-deficient (VAD) diet increases the total amount of bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and alters the intestinal microflora. Results show a decrease in the relative proportion of Lactobacillus spp. and the simultaneous appearance of Escherichia coli strains. Lack of vitamin A significantly changed mucin (MUC) dynamics, as reflected by the enlarged goblet-cell "cup" area relative to controls; decreased MUC2 mRNA expression in the jejunum, ileum and colon of VAD rats and increased MUC3 mRNA expression in the ileum and colon of these rats. In addition, vitamin A deficiency down-regulated defensin 6 mRNA expression while up-regulating toll-like receptors 2 and 5 mRNA expressions. The current study indicates that vitamin A deficiency interferes with the integrity of the gastrointestinal mucosal barrier.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
0955-2863
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
20
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
70-7
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2009
pubmed:articleTitle
Bacterial population and innate immunity-related genes in rat gastrointestinal tract are altered by vitamin A-deficient diet.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Animal Science, The Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article