Gut Dysbiosis in Pancreatic Diseases: A Causative Factor and a Novel Therapeutic Target

Abstract

Pancreatic-related disorders such as pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) impose a substantial challenge to human health and wellbeing. Even though our understanding of the initiation and progression of pancreatic diseases has broadened over time, no effective therapeutics is yet available for these disorders. Mounting evidence suggests that gut dysbiosis is closely related to human health and disease, and pancreatic diseases are no exception. Now much effort is under way to explore the correlation and eventually potential causation between the gut microbiome and the course of pancreatic diseases, as well as to develop novel preventive and/or therapeutic strategies of targeted microbiome modulation by probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for these multifactorial disorders. Attempts to dissect the intestinal microbial landscape and its metabolic profile might enable deep insight into a holistic picture of these complex conditions. This article aims to review the subtle yet intimate nexus loop between the gut microbiome and pancreatic diseases, with a particular focus on current evidence supporting the feasibility of preventing and controlling pancreatic diseases via microbiome-based therapeutics and therapies.

Probiotics enhances anti‐tumor immune response induced by gemcitabine plus cisplatin chemotherapy for urothelial cancer

“…There is evidence of the association between gut microbiota and cancer initiation, progression, treatment response, and side effects. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 24 , 25 The gut microbiota modulates the host immune system, interacts with host metabolism, and produces toxins and metabolites which influence the tumor microenvironment. 26 However, few studies have investigated the effects of intravenous administration of chemotherapy drugs on the gut microbiota.…”

“…Meta‐analyses and systematic reviews have revealed that gut dysbiosis is closely related to human health, chemotherapy‐related side effects, and surgery‐related complications and diseases 12–14 . In this study, we investigated the effects of systemic chemotherapy with GC on the gut microbiome.…”

“…Meta‐analyses and systematic reviews have revealed that gut dysbiosis is closely related to human health, chemotherapy‐related side effects, and surgery‐related complications and diseases. 12 , 13 , 14 In this study, we investigated the effects of systemic chemotherapy with GC on the gut microbiome. We hypothesized a potential link between chemotherapy‐induced gut dysbiosis and decreased anti‐tumor immunity, driving us to explore novel interventions for targeted microbiome modulation by supplementing with probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics to retain anti‐tumor immunity.…”

Gut microbiota interacts with inflammatory responses in acute pancreatitis

“…211 Studies have shown that most pancreatic and extra-pancreatic organ infections originate in the intestine and induce inflammatory responses, which are major causes of 'secondary attack' and increased late death of patients with SAP. 212 Changes in the GM play an important role in intestinal homeostasis and aggravate the inflammatory response under intestinal 190 Wang et al, 199,200 Zhang et al 201 Six different strains of probiotic prophylaxis mixture More multiorgan failure-related deaths…”

Diabetes and SARS-CoV-2–Is There a Mutual Connection?

“…Additionally, it is worth noticing that multiple factors can contribute to the development and severity of both diabetes and COVID-19. For instance, disturbances in gut microbiome composition and gut permeability might underlie a low-grade inflammation, which has been linked to new-onset diabetes ( Alkanani et al, 2015 ; Leiva-Gea et al, 2018 ; Zhang et al, 2022 ) and to the increased severity and mortality of COVID-19 ( Giron et al, 2021 ; Giannos and Prokopidis, 2022 ; Schult et al, 2022 ). Similarly, diabetes and SARS-CoV-2 infection both trigger pro-inflammatory reactions independently.…”