A Home for the Bugs in Our Appendix

The appendix has long been considered a useless, vestigial organ, primarily based on the fact that it can be removed with no visibly harmful effects on the appendectomy recipient and that it is rather susceptible to severe inflammation. In fact, many theories have been proposed for its ancient purpose, ranging from being a place to allow plant matter to ferment to being a locale for crushed bones to be dissolved.

However, recent evidence posits that the appendix plays a crucial role in maintaining important gut symbionts. A recent report by Smith et al compares the structural features of the appendix across various mammalian species, and uses this comparison to further elucidate the function the appendix.

It has been known for a few years that the lymph tissue in the appendix has played an important role in the immune-regulation of gut symbionts. The tissues in the appendix actively promote and support biofilm growth with various secreted effectors to a significantly greater degree than the rest of the gut.

Structurally, the appendix is in relative isolation from the rest of the gut, bounded by a rather constricted opening and narrow lumen. This, coupled with the above observations, suggest a role for the appendix in maintaining important gut symbionts during in an immune response to gut pathogens, or to the diarrheal effects of certain pathogens. Due to the unique structure of the appendix, symbionts within this structure would be more likely to survive such conditions and be capable of re-colonizing the gut following pathogen clearance.

The authors show, through comparative structural analysis, that in many mammals the structure of the appendix is similar, with differences occurring due primarily to the greater gut structure (a product of the mammals diet). Furthermore, they show that some animals may have lost the appendix, but that in other clades, its presence has been maintained for tens of millions of years.

Ultimately, these observations show that the appendix is far from useless and vestigial. Though this does raise questions about those individuals who have had their appendix removed. Is there a higher incidence of post-antibiotic treatment Clostridium difficle infections, or inflammatory bowel diseases? Or are appendix-less individuals more susceptible to adverse reactions and longer recovery times following diarrheal illnesses like norovirus, Salmonella, or cholera infections?

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Citation:
Smith HF, Fisher RE, Everett ML, Thomas AD, Bollinger RR, & Parker W (2009). Comparative anatomy and phylogenetic distribution of the mammalian cecal appendix. Journal of evolutionary biology, 22 (10), 1984-99 PMID: 19678866

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Other Articles of Interest:
A MAP to Crohn's Disease; Revisiting Koch's Postulates
Altruism in Bacteria? Allowing Yourself to Die for the Good of the Species