Gut microbiome and health: mechanistic insights

Abstract

The gut microbiota is now considered as one of the key elements contributing to the regulation of host health. Virtually all our body sites are colonised by microbes suggesting different types of crosstalk with our organs. Because of the development of molecular tools and techniques (ie, metagenomic, metabolomic, lipidomic, metatranscriptomic), the complex interactions occurring between the host and the different microorganisms are progressively being deciphered. Nowadays, gut microbiota deviations are linked with many diseases including obesity, type 2 diabetes, hepatic steatosis, intestinal bowel diseases (IBDs) and several types of cancer. Thus, suggesting that various pathways involved in immunity, energy, lipid and glucose metabolism are affected.In this review, specific attention is given to provide a critical evaluation of the current understanding in this field. Numerous molecular mechanisms explaining how gut bacteria might be causally linked with the protection or the onset of diseases are discussed. We examine well-established metabolites (ie, short-chain fatty acids, bile acids, trimethylamine N-oxide) and extend this to more recently identified molecular actors (ie, endocannabinoids, bioactive lipids, phenolic-derived compounds, advanced glycation end products and enterosynes) and their specific receptors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) and gamma (PPARγ), aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), and G protein-coupled receptors (ie, GPR41, GPR43, GPR119, Takeda G protein-coupled receptor 5).Altogether, understanding the complexity and the molecular aspects linking gut microbes to health will help to set the basis for novel therapies that are already being developed.

A Gut Feeling in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Microbiome of Mice and Men

“…Many factors are involved in the gut microbiota composition and function, including genetics, gender, age, geographic location, lifestyle, and diet ( Ballan et al., 2020 ; de Vos et al., 2022 ). Also, the gut microbiota is responsible for metabolization of compounds from the diet producing several metabolites ( Ballan et al., 2020 ; de Vos et al., 2022 ).…”

“…Many factors are involved in the gut microbiota composition and function, including genetics, gender, age, geographic location, lifestyle, and diet ( Ballan et al., 2020 ; de Vos et al., 2022 ). Also, the gut microbiota is responsible for metabolization of compounds from the diet producing several metabolites ( Ballan et al., 2020 ; de Vos et al., 2022 ). As a consequence, different gut microbiota compositions will result in different metabolite profiles, that will interact with cell receptors, having a direct impact on different signaling pathways and on the host health ( de Vos et al., 2022 ).…”

“…Also, the gut microbiota is responsible for metabolization of compounds from the diet producing several metabolites (Ballan et al, 2020;de Vos et al, 2022). As a consequence, different gut microbiota compositions will result in different metabolite profiles, that will interact with cell receptors, having a direct impact on different signaling pathways and on the host health (de Vos et al, 2022).…”

The Therapeutic Role of Exercise and Probiotics in Stressful Brain Conditions

“…On the other hand, over the last two decades, the gut microbiota has emerged as an important organ with key functions such as the training of host immunity, digesting food, regulating gut endocrine, and neurological functions [ 14 , 15 ]. Evidence continues to demonstrate that the gut microbiota is particularly implicated in brain physiology and behavior, affecting host mental health [ 16 , 17 , 18 ].…”

Microbiota-derived aspartate drives pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae expansion in the inflamed gut

“…The human gastrointestinal tract is colonized by a complex microbial community known as the gut microbiota. This community provides benefits to the host by contributing to nutrition and immune education (de Vos et al, 2022). In addition, the gut microbiota protects the host by limiting enteric pathogen expansion (colonization resistance) partially via nutrient sequestration (Caballero-Flores et al, 2020; Krautkramer et al, 2021; Oliphant and Allen-Vercoe, 2019).…”