Pediatria pre prax 2/2007

NUTRITION, PREBIOTICS, PROBIOTICS, AND IMMUNE SYSTEM. PART I: IMMUNE SYSTEM, PRINCIPLES OF FUNCTION

Immune response is potentially harmful for host. For this reason immune response has to be induced only by those signals of both exoand endogenous origin which can disturb homeostasis. These so called „danger signals“ are identified by innate immunity through receptors for danger patterns (PRR). This is followed by the development of inflammatory response including specific immune mechanisms. Exspecially specific immunity is undergoing substantial changes during ontogeny under the influence of numerous exogenous stimuli including nutrition. Breast feeding is a key factor in this process. Human milk contains large amount of oligosacharides with prebiotics properties which undermine the development of physiological microflora of gut with probiotic activities.

Keywords: innate immunity, development, nutrition, prebiotics.