Chiriac MT, Mahapatro M, Neurath M, Becker C (2017)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2017
Book Volume: 33
Pages Range: 153-162
Journal Issue: 2
DOI: 10.1159/000470892
It has become increasingly evident over the past two decades that the microbiota plays a nurturing role in the development of the immune system. This appears to be important since the amplitude of immune responses has a crucial regulatory function in homeostasis and the prevention of unwanted inflammation. Hence, a malfunctioning gut flora has been shown to play a key role in visceral medicine. Strong evidence demonstrates for example that intestinal inflammation can develop as a result of a dysregulated microbiota, deficient antimicrobial responses, and aberrant bacterial translocation into the bowel wall. In healthy individuals, the bacterial translocation is blocked by a single layer of highly specialized intestinal epithelial cells which forms a strong barrier that lines the gut wall. This structure is responsible for an efficient absorption of nutrients while keeping the luminal flora at bay. In susceptible individuals, for yet incompletely understood reasons, either defective epithelial barrier function or dysregulated microbial composition or microbial pathogens drive intestinal inflammation. Many therapeutic strategies focusing on the modulation of the microbiota have been proposed recently but future research including prospective human studies and gnotobiotic mouse models are still needed to evaluate the contribution and potential therapeutic value of individual bacteria to human health.
APA:
Chiriac, M.T., Mahapatro, M., Neurath, M., & Becker, C. (2017). The Microbiome in Visceral Medicine: Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Obesity and Beyond. Visceral Medicine, 33(2), 153-162. https://doi.org/10.1159/000470892
MLA:
Chiriac, Mircea T., et al. "The Microbiome in Visceral Medicine: Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Obesity and Beyond." Visceral Medicine 33.2 (2017): 153-162.
BibTeX: Download