Impaired responses to gliadin and gut microbes of immune cells from mice with altered stress-related behavior and premature immune senescence

• Altered-stress response and aging can be involved in celiac disease susceptibility.
• Premature aging by altered stress-related behavior increases reactivity to gluten.
• Premature and chronological aging alters responses to gut bacteria.
• Chronological aging leads to intestinal dysbiosis but not altered-stress responses.

Stress is associated with impaired communication between the nervous and immune systems leading to immunosenescence and increased disease risk. We investigated whether leukocytes from mice with altered stress-related behavior and premature immunosenescence, as well as from chronologically aged mice differently responded ex vivo to celiac disease (CD) triggers (gliadin) and intestinal bacteria by ELISA and flow cytometry and differed in microbiota composition. We found that altered stress-related behavior and premature immunosenescence led to alterations in T lymphocytes and cytokine release of immune cells basally and in response to peptic fragments of gliadin and commensal and pathogenic bacteria, possibly increasing susceptibility to CD in adulthood.