Microbiota-host immune and metabolic axis

The microbiota-host immune and metabolic axis represents a complex network of bidirectional communication between commensal microorganisms and the host's physiological systems. This non-classical target category encompasses signaling pathways where microbial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and secondary bile acids, act as ligands for host receptors like GPR41, GPR43, and TGR5 to influence immune cell maturation and metabolic homeostasis (Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2021). These interactions are essential for maintaining the intestinal epithelial barrier and regulating systemic inflammatory responses. Dysregulation of these pathways, often termed dysbiosis, is strongly linked to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Type 2 diabetes, and the modulation of host responses to cancer immunotherapies (Cell, 2019). Therapeutic strategies targeting this axis include live biotherapeutic products (LBPs) and fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) aimed at restoring a functional microbial ecosystem (Science, 2020). Because these interactions involve entire microbial communities rather than single human proteins, they represent a shift toward systems-based pharmacology in drug development.

Other names

Gut-immune axisHost-microbe metabolic crosstalkMicrobiome-host axisGut-metabolism axisNon-classical microbiota pathways

Modulation of host physiological processes through the introduction of commensal bacteria or microbial-derived metabolites that signal via host receptors to restore homeostatic balance.