Gut microbiota and host intestinal immune ecosystem

The gut microbiota and host intestinal immune ecosystem constitute a complex, symbiotic network essential for maintaining systemic homeostasis and immune tolerance. This ecosystem involves trillions of commensal microorganisms that interact with the host mucosal immune system, particularly the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), to calibrate immune responses (Belkaid & Hand, 2014). The microbiota produces bioactive metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which promote the differentiation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and maintain the integrity of the intestinal barrier (Furusawa et al., 2013). Disruptions in this delicate balance, termed dysbiosis, are implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), allergies, obesity, and autoimmune disorders (Round & Mazmanian, 2009). Furthermore, the composition of the gut microbiota has been shown to significantly influence the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (Gopalakrishnan et al., 2018). Therapeutic interventions, including probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), aim to restore a healthy microbial-immune interface to treat or prevent disease (Thursby & Juge, 2017).

Other names

Gut-immune axisIntestinal microbiota-immune system interfaceGut microbiome-immune system

Modulation of microbial composition and metabolite production to regulate host immune cell differentiation and barrier integrity.