Advances in the understanding of the intestinal micro-environment and inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

The human gastrointestinal tract accommodates an entire micro-environment for divergent physiologic processes, the dysbiosis of this micro-ecology has a strong inter-action with the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In the past few years, with the advances in the understanding of microbiome, its metabolites and further application of next generation sequencing, analysis of dynamic alteration of gut micro-environment was realized, which provides numerous information beyond simple microbiota structure or metabolites differences under chronic colitis status. The subsequent intervention strategies targeting the modulation of intestinal micro-environment have been explored as a potential therapy. In this review, we will summarize the recent knowledge about multi-dimensional dysbiosis, the inter-action between fungus and bacteria under inflamed mucosa, and the clinical application of probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation as a promising therapeutic approach in IBD.

Intestinal epithelial chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 7 overexpression protects against high fat diet-induced obesity and hepatic steatosis in mice

“…[ 25 ] It is also reported that microbiota structure or derived metabolites had significant differences in chronic colitis status compared to control group. [ 15 ] However, the interactive relationship between obesity, the gut microbiome, and intestinal immunity is still unclear. In our study, based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis of mouse fecal microbiota, we found that CCL7 overexpression in intestinal epithelial cells caused alterations in the intestinal microbial landscape upon HFD challenge, which may, in turn, interfere with high-fat-diet-induced obesity, insulin resistance, and the development of non-alcohol fatty liver disease.…”

“…It is also worth noting that intestinally-derived inflammatory factors and anti-microbial molecules can influence the microbial composition in the gut. [ 14 , 15 ]…”

Gut microbiota and inflammatory bowel disease: The current status and perspectives

“…Various microbial organisms are found in the gut, with the number exceeding 100 trillion, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, as well as protozoa[ 1 , 2 ]. The number of bacteria varies throughout the entire gastrointestinal tract, making a comparison between the colon, stomach, and small intestine difficult as the amount and diversity of bacterial species are higher in the colon[ 3 , 4 ]. In humans, homeostasis of nutrition, immune development, metabolism, and defense against pathogens is essential, and it is achieved because of the existence of the gut microbiome.…”

Washed microbiota transplantation for the treatment of recurrent fungal infection in a patient with ulcerative colitis

“…[ 5 ] This step-up FMT strategy for treating refractory IBD has gained increasing cognition. [ 6 ] Meanwhile, thalidomide can be employed as a treatment option in severe IBD cases by inducing mucosal and histological healing, even in patients with resistance or intolerance to steroids or other anti-TNF agents. [ 7 ] Thalidomide has additional effects, including improving nutritional status, decreasing stool frequency, and maintaining clinical remission in IBD patients, [ 7 ] which need 8 to 12 weeks to take effect.…”