Immunomodulation by Quorum Sensing

Ravneet Chug1*, Manishita Das Mukherji1, Rana Mukherji2 and Machiavelli Singh3

1Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Rajasthan, Jaipur 303002, Rajasthan, India.

2ICFAI Tech, The ICFAI University, Jaipur 302031, Rajasthan, India.

3Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Haryana, Manesar, Gurugram 122413, Haryana, India.

*Corresponding author email: rchug@jpr.amity.edu

Abstract

Quorum sensing regulates the changes in gene expression programs triggered by shifts in population density. It is primarily known as a mechanism by which bacterial communities coordinate which in turn influences the formation of biofilm formation, bioluminescence, motility, and virulence factor expression.

It is now widely recognized that quorum sensing is not limited to bacteria of the same species but extends to diverse groups of microorganisms that have co-evolved. Each of these organisms has adapted to the biology of others, leading to the establishment of evolutionarily stable interactions aimed at shaping and preserving the equilibrium of the entire bacterial population within a specific niche. Many aspects of cellular behavior resembling those underlying bacterial quorum sensing can be observed in the immune system.

For instance, quorum sensing plays a role in regulating the absolute size of certain immune cell subsets and contributes to optimizing their effector functions, such as cytokine secretion. This current review focus on the emerging evidence indicating that quorum sensing also plays a role in regulating immune cell responses.

Keywords: Quorum Sensing, Lymphocytes, Immune Homeostasis