Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is the major immunoglobulin isotype produced by the gut immune system, and many studies revealed key roles of IgA in establishing host-bacteria mutualism. This chapter will review current understandings for the function of gut IgA in regulating commensal microbiota. IgA specifically recognizes bacterial species that strongly stimulate host's immune responses, and suppresses their overgrowth or reduces the expressions of bacterial pro-inflammatory genes. On the other hand, IgA coatings on symbiotic bacteria enhance bacteria-mucus and bacteria-bacteria interactions, which induce production of metabolites enforcing mucosal barrier functions. Such diversified effects suggest that multiple factors may be involved in the mechanisms of IgA-bacteria interactions, including IgA specificity to microbial epitopes, mode of cellular responses of IgA synthesis (T-dependent and T-independent) and post-translational modifications of IgA proteins, such as glycosylation.
Keywords: Commensal bacteria; Diversification; Gut; IgA.