Social stress-responsive microbiota induces stimulation of self-reactive effector T helper-cells

Stressful life events are considered a risk factor for autoimmune disorders, though the mechanisms are unclear. Here we demonstrate that chronic social stress induced virulence-associated transcriptional patterns in the murine gut microbiota.

  The stress-influenced microbiota increased the presence of effector-T-helper cells in the mesenteric lymph nodes, including myelin-auto-reactive cells. Inhibition of the bacterial quorum-sensor QseC, which is also responsive to norepinephrine, diminished the presence of effector-T-helper cells and bacteria such as Acinetobacter in the mesenteric lymph nodes, without remarkably affecting the gut microbial composition.

  Together our results delineate a model in which the immune reaction to stress-responsive microbiota may compromises tolerance to self, and therefore may increase the risk for autoimmune diseases in susceptible individuals.