The Role of the Gallbladder, the Intestinal Barrier and the Gut Microbiota in the Development of Food Allergies and Other Disorders

Abstract

The microbiota present in the gastrointestinal tract is involved in the development or prevention of food allergies and autoimmune disorders; these bacteria can enter the gallbladder and, depending on the species involved, can either be benign or cause significant diseases. Occlusion of the gallbladder, usually due to the presence of calculi blocking the bile duct, facilitates microbial infection and inflammation, which can be serious enough to require life-saving surgery. In addition, the biliary salts are secreted into the intestine and can affect the gut microbiota. The interaction between the gut microbiota, pathogenic organisms, and the human immune system can create intestinal dysbiosis, generating a variety of syndromes including the development of food allergies and autoimmune disorders. The intestinal microbiota can aggravate certain food allergies, which become severe when the integrity of the intestinal barrier is affected, allowing bacteria, or their metabolites, to cross the intestinal barrier and invade the bloodstream, affecting distal body organs. This article deals with health conditions and severe diseases that are either influenced by the gut flora or caused by gallbladder obstruction and inflammation, as well as putative treatments for those illnesses.

Microbiological aspects of acute cholecystitis

“…In recent years, the discussion of the role of bacteriocholism in the occurrence of diseases of the biliary system and its impact on the results of surgical interventions become more and more actual in researchers. [1][2][3][4] It is noted that under physiological conditions, the sterility of bile is largely ensured by its bactericidal properties due to the antibacterial effect of bile acids. 1,5 Bile acids are one of the main elements of the protective system of the biliary tract.…”

The origins and longevity of IgE responses as indicated by serological and cellular studies in mice and humans

“…A recently identified subset of dendritic cells responsive to IL‐13 that promotes type 2 immunity may be key to IgE production after allergen exposure through a compromised epithelial barrier, 102 but alarmins, such as IL‐33 likely also play a role 91,96 . Similarly, a compromised intestinal epithelial barrier may also permit sensitization to otherwise well tolerated dietary proteins 103 . In summary, models of allergy reflect three separate sensitization routes: chronic exposure; adjuvanted exposure through a mucosal route; and exposure through compromised epithelial barriers (Figure 2).…”

“… 91 , 96 Similarly, a compromised intestinal epithelial barrier may also permit sensitization to otherwise well tolerated dietary proteins. 103 In summary, models of allergy reflect three separate sensitization routes: chronic exposure; adjuvanted exposure through a mucosal route; and exposure through compromised epithelial barriers (Figure 2 ).…”

The causal relationship between gut microbiota and biliary tract cancer: comprehensive bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis

“…This presents significant prospects for the formulation of holistic strategies utilizing prebiotics for the promotion of healthful diets and the management and prophylaxis of BTC (Liu et al, 2022). Previous scholarly inquiries have indicated the potential of intestinal microbiota to act as an emergent biological indicator for the prognostic assessment and preventive measures concerning BTC (Plieskatt et al, 2013;Chng et al, 2016;Jia et al, 2020;Chen et al, 2021;Zhang Q. et al, 2021;Zhang T. et al, 2021;Mao et al, 2021;Abril et al, 2022;Binda et al, 2022;Ito et al, 2022;Okuda et al, 2022;Wheatley et al, 2022;Chai et al, 2023;Elvevi et al, 2023).…”