Microbiota in Pancreatic Diseases: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

The gut microbiota is a critical element in the balance between human health and disease. Its impairment, defined as dysbiosis, is associated with gastroenterological and systemic diseases. Pancreatic secretions are involved in the composition and changes of the gut microbiota, and the gut microbiota may colonize the pancreatic parenchyma and be associated with the occurrence of diseases. The gut microbiota and the pancreas influence each other, resulting in a “gut microbiota-pancreas axis”. Moreover, the gut microbiota may be involved in pancreatic diseases, both through direct bacterial colonization and an indirect effect of small molecules and toxins derived from dysbiosis. Pancreatic diseases such as acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, autoimmune pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer are common gastroenterological diseases associated with high morbidity and mortality. The involvement of the microbiota in pancreatic diseases is increasingly recognized. Therefore, modifying the intestinal bacterial flora could have important therapeutic implications on these pathologies. The aim of this study is to review the literature to evaluate the alterations of the gut microbiota in pancreatic diseases, and the role of the microbiota in the treatment of these diseases.

Fatty Pancreas and Pancreatic Cancer: An Overlooked Association?

“…The second one is related to the effect of intrapancreatic fatty infiltration on the development of pancreatic cancer by inducing steatopancreatitis leading to pancreatic cell injury, fibrosis and finally cancer [15,16]. Additionally, recent data have highlighted the role of gut microbiota in the development of PC and in tumor progression, as it was shown that the gut microbial diversity was lower among patients with PC, accompanied by an increment in potentially harmful pathogens such as Enterobacteriaceae and a decrease in some beneficial probiotics such as Bifidobacterium and butyrate-producing bacteria, suggesting that restoring the state of microbiota among PC patients might be associated with a favorable disease outcome [17].…”

Autoimmune Pancreatitis: From Pathogenesis to Treatment

“…Assuming that the increased number of IgG4 is secondary to prolonged exposure to an antigen, as is the case with allergic reactions, the antigens involved in the development of AIP-1 have not yet been defined. In the era of the gut microbiome, the interactions between the microbiota and our immune system have been extensively studied [ 55 ].…”

The impact of postmenopausal hormone therapy on the duodenal microbiome

“…1,2 Failure to maintain such diversity and balance of microbial taxa within the gut, called dysbiosis, associates with the development of pathophysiological conditions, such as cardiovascular 3 and renal diseases, 4 psoriasis, 5 atherosclerosis, 6 liver disease, 7 cancer, 1,8,9 hypertension, 10 irritable bowel syndrome, 11 rheumatoid arthritis, 12,13 and pancreatic disease. 14 Dysbiosis is also thought to contribute to the aging process. 15,16 Because of the direct neural circuitry connecting the enteric system of the gut and the central nervous system, commonly referred to as the gut-brain axis, several neural disorders including autism, depression, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and schizophrenia associate with gut dysbiosis.…”