Inherited nongenetic influences on the gut microbiome and immune system

Abstract

The gut microbiome and the immune system codevelop around the time of birth, well after genetic information has been passed from the parents to the offspring. Each of these “organ systems” displays plasticity. The immune system can mount highly specific adaptive responses to newly encountered antigens, and the gut microbiota is affected by changes in the environment. Despite this plasticity, there is a growing appreciation that these organ systems, once established, are remarkably stable. In health, the immune system rapidly mounts responses to infections, and once cleared, resolves inflammatory responses to return to homeostasis. However, a skewed immune system, such as seen in allergy, does not easily return to homeostasis. Allergic responses are often seen to multiple antigens. Likewise, a dysbiotic gut microbiota is seen in multiple diseases. Attempts to reset the gut microbiota as a therapy for disease have met with varied success. Therefore, how these codeveloping “organ systems” become established is a central question relevant to our overall health. Recent observations suggest that maternal factors encountered both in utero and after birth can directly or indirectly impact the development of the offspring's gut microbiome and immune system. Here, we discuss how these nongenetic maternal influences can have long‐term effects on the progeny's health.

The Complex Link and Disease Between the Gut Microbiome and the Immune System in Infants

“…Our gastrointestinal system is sterile or contains few microorganisms when we are born, and it is swiftly colonized by microbes from the outside world ( Knoop et al., 2018 ). From birth to adulthood, gut microbial colonization in healthy individuals is characterized by a dynamic series of events that play critical roles in promoting gut homeostasis and stimulating normal development and responses of the immune system( Table 1 ) ( Del Chierico et al., 2015 ; Dominguez-Bello et al., 2019 ).…”

Asthma and the Missing Heritability Problem: Necessity for Multiomics Approaches in Determining Accurate Risk Profiles

“…The maternal gut microbiome has been shown to be vertically inherited from mother to child both prenatally and based on the mode of delivery ( 127 , 131 ), as well as postnatally through breastfeeding ( 134 ) where the infant gut microbiome co-develops along with the intestinal immune system following birth. Vaginally delivered babies develop gut microbial communities similar to maternal vaginal microbial composition, whereas, in case of caesarean sections, babies acquire gut microbial communities similar to the maternal skin microbiome profile ( 135 ). Inevitably, the composition of the maternal microbiome during pregnancy has a significant impact on fetal immune development and influences the predisposition of the offspring to develop asthma ( 133 ).…”

Микробиота Желудочно-Кишечного Тракта И Иммунитет

“…У взрослых многие факторы могут влиять на микробиоту: географическая локализация, вид питания, стрессы, двигательная активность, заболевания (ишемия, повреждение слизистой у критически больных пациентов), гормональная регуляция, подавление желудочной секреции, прием лекарств, в том числе антибиотиков [12]. Несмотря на это, растет понимание того, что микробиота человека удивительно стабильна [13].…”